(Historical Post - June 2015)
To the casual movie goers eye, this is probably seen as a bit shit, but to the committed cinephile, its pure genius; it is what critics are actually calling a genre masterpiece.
This film will in no way get the universal credit it deserves and that, to me, is a crying shame.
What makes it unique, apart from the mind blowing score, which I will get to in a minute, is the fact that there is hardly any bloodshed and only one or possibly two jumpy moments, but it still scared the shit out of me, in fact I was sent the trailer by my friend about 3 weeks prior to watching it and lets just say, it bothered me that much I freak out every time I go near a window in the dark - my conservatory gives me palpitations at the moment!
I wouldn't say its scary, I think the word for it is creepy, so intensely creepy it will give you actual chills, that's for sure and as my friend said, it will definitely stay with you for a long time. I think he is so right and I am fully prepared to be checking over my shoulder as well as down every drain (which I have done for a long time) for the rest of my life ha ha
This is the second independent film written and directed by largely unknown David Robert Mitchell, but his first venture into horror. It debuted and was received extremely well at Cannes in spring of 2014 and managed to get low level distribution for early 2015. I've noticed that only now its been released and everyone is going ape shit about it, is it actually starting to get the marketing it deserved - radio, TV etc.
I can't actually find any budget information, but due to a number of obvious factors, I can assume it's extremely low and wouldn't have allowed for a massive press tour or anything - without studio backing, that's inevitable unfortunately.
The story line is genius in my opinion and I've not seen a film exactly like it before or since - its like the standard stalker movie updated for the sexually precocious generation X.
Its basically the STD from HELL!
I won't go into the story too much, you will have to watch it yourselves - which I strongly urge you to do, with your mind open and imagination flexed and ready, as this is not a film that spoon feeds you the answers to all the questions you will most definitely have - a lot of this plot is dependent on the assumption of the viewer, with a little bit of a nudge in the right direction from the clumsily spliced together scenes.
My use of the word 'clumsily' should not lead you to think I am slagging off the editing because I'm not - far from it, the way the film seems cobbled together, only gives more fuel to the jarring metaphorical fire that burns throughout this film.
There is not one complaint I can make and that's rare - everything that would be seen as shoddy work, poor continuity, poor editing, cheesy plot lines etc etc is absolutely intentional and genius in my opinion.
In my head the movie is set in present day - I only think this because of the e-reader compact that one of the main cast has permanently attached to her hand, to be used a plot device when needed - although in my opinion it is supposed to be reminiscent or representative of the late 70's and early 80's, that transition between decades when no one knows what they are supposed to be wearing, watching, doing etc. its a beautiful mish mash of time periods and the costumes and sets were phenomenally detailed to that effect.
Actually I do have one complaint - the special effects and make up looked cheap, but with such a tiny budget who cares?? It's still one of only a handful of films that really stick out for me, really get my mind bursting with questions and perceptions.
Two of my male friends are movie buffs just like me and we usually have the same opinion (excluding the Age of Extinction argument) and the same reaction to films, we notice the same things, we criticise and praise the same things and our totally unanimous opinion on this film, is that the score was absolutely off the scale amazing. It is this wholly synthesised, vintage horror inspired, sound that drives the scare home and builds the tension in just the right measure, in just the right places - very John Carpenter's Halloween'ish type sound.
Like I said before, the whole film had an air of late 70's/early 80's horror, the town and even the street it was set in, could easily have been cut and pasted directly out of Haddonfield or Springwood.
This film is the perfect homage to the likes of Wes Craven and John Carpenter, but still feels fresh and new in its own right - if you are a horror fan this is a must see.
To the casual movie goers eye, this is probably seen as a bit shit, but to the committed cinephile, its pure genius; it is what critics are actually calling a genre masterpiece.
This film will in no way get the universal credit it deserves and that, to me, is a crying shame.
What makes it unique, apart from the mind blowing score, which I will get to in a minute, is the fact that there is hardly any bloodshed and only one or possibly two jumpy moments, but it still scared the shit out of me, in fact I was sent the trailer by my friend about 3 weeks prior to watching it and lets just say, it bothered me that much I freak out every time I go near a window in the dark - my conservatory gives me palpitations at the moment!
I wouldn't say its scary, I think the word for it is creepy, so intensely creepy it will give you actual chills, that's for sure and as my friend said, it will definitely stay with you for a long time. I think he is so right and I am fully prepared to be checking over my shoulder as well as down every drain (which I have done for a long time) for the rest of my life ha ha
This is the second independent film written and directed by largely unknown David Robert Mitchell, but his first venture into horror. It debuted and was received extremely well at Cannes in spring of 2014 and managed to get low level distribution for early 2015. I've noticed that only now its been released and everyone is going ape shit about it, is it actually starting to get the marketing it deserved - radio, TV etc.
I can't actually find any budget information, but due to a number of obvious factors, I can assume it's extremely low and wouldn't have allowed for a massive press tour or anything - without studio backing, that's inevitable unfortunately.
The story line is genius in my opinion and I've not seen a film exactly like it before or since - its like the standard stalker movie updated for the sexually precocious generation X.
Its basically the STD from HELL!
I won't go into the story too much, you will have to watch it yourselves - which I strongly urge you to do, with your mind open and imagination flexed and ready, as this is not a film that spoon feeds you the answers to all the questions you will most definitely have - a lot of this plot is dependent on the assumption of the viewer, with a little bit of a nudge in the right direction from the clumsily spliced together scenes.
My use of the word 'clumsily' should not lead you to think I am slagging off the editing because I'm not - far from it, the way the film seems cobbled together, only gives more fuel to the jarring metaphorical fire that burns throughout this film.
There is not one complaint I can make and that's rare - everything that would be seen as shoddy work, poor continuity, poor editing, cheesy plot lines etc etc is absolutely intentional and genius in my opinion.
In my head the movie is set in present day - I only think this because of the e-reader compact that one of the main cast has permanently attached to her hand, to be used a plot device when needed - although in my opinion it is supposed to be reminiscent or representative of the late 70's and early 80's, that transition between decades when no one knows what they are supposed to be wearing, watching, doing etc. its a beautiful mish mash of time periods and the costumes and sets were phenomenally detailed to that effect.
Actually I do have one complaint - the special effects and make up looked cheap, but with such a tiny budget who cares?? It's still one of only a handful of films that really stick out for me, really get my mind bursting with questions and perceptions.
Two of my male friends are movie buffs just like me and we usually have the same opinion (excluding the Age of Extinction argument) and the same reaction to films, we notice the same things, we criticise and praise the same things and our totally unanimous opinion on this film, is that the score was absolutely off the scale amazing. It is this wholly synthesised, vintage horror inspired, sound that drives the scare home and builds the tension in just the right measure, in just the right places - very John Carpenter's Halloween'ish type sound.
Like I said before, the whole film had an air of late 70's/early 80's horror, the town and even the street it was set in, could easily have been cut and pasted directly out of Haddonfield or Springwood.
This film is the perfect homage to the likes of Wes Craven and John Carpenter, but still feels fresh and new in its own right - if you are a horror fan this is a must see.