Fantasia '19 Film Review - 8

There has been a surge in new South African cinema telling stories that do not focued on politics or race relations. Last years homage to Rear Window, Number 37 and the recent Five Fingers of Marseilles to name a couple. Exploring folklore is also a rising trend in the horror world. Both merge together here in Harold Holscher's 8.  Holscher had a curiosity of what different cultures in South Africa think happen to displaced souls at death. One traditions is on the Buffalo Thorn tree where a healer goes asks for a branch that a goat eats, is sacrificed then buried with the family member that died away from the homestead bringing the soul home. Holscher took this further to a figure that collects these souls giving birth to the main character of the film.

The Wanderer /Lazarus (Tshamano Sebe) is snuck up on by precocious Mary (Keita Luna) as she searches for food to feed her silkworms. She introduces her worms by their names to Lazarus who is immediately taken by the child escorting her back home to the suspicion of her Aunt Sarah (Inge Beckmann) and thankfulness of her Uncle William (Garth Breytenbach). William needing assistance with the farm offers that Lazarus can stay in the shed and work on the property. The local village sense that Lazarus has returned to the community. To them, he is a demon that comes to steal souls of the villagers at night. But some remember him as a man and grieving father that lost his wife and daughter in a fire. In a moment of extreme sadness and despair, he made a deal with evil to bring his daughter back. The creature that is not Lazarus' true daughter demands souls in return to feed its hunger.

Little known actor Tshamano Sebe rules the screen as The Wanderer. He is father, demon, handyman and a validating friend to young Mary. Keita Luna gets inside Lazurus pain shield to fully engage him, their blossoming relationship the reason that a leap from character works in the third act. Inge Beckmann plays the stern, protective, barren Aunt to the hilt making the audience emotionally root for a demon soul stealer over the clear-eyed guardian.

8 is at its core a story about guilt. Lazarus has guilt over not protecting his family and the deal he made with evil at the most vulnerable time. Sarah's is due to being barren and not able to produce an heir for William.  William's because he squandered all of his money forcing him out to the sparsely populated countryside to run a farm. Mary's is survivors following the untimely death of her parents. The first time feature director brings these elements together to produce a film that is well worth the watch.

*** Out of 4

8 | Harold Holscher | South Africa | 2019 | 105 Minutes

Tags: Farm, Shed, Fire, Evil, Orphan, Chant, Soul, Limbo, Pregnancy.