Fantasia '19 Film Review - Sator

A labour of love based on personal experience forged on a micro-budget. Jordan Graham bares his soul showing a family rife with dysfunction under the heavy weight of a grandmother Nani (June Petersom) who is a vessel for the spirit Sator writing down the offerings. Nani's state along with absenteeism attitude of his mother comes to a head on a key birthday for Adam (Gabe Nicholson). His sister Evie (Rachel Johnson) sending him out into the woods as her brother had potentially become a serious threat to the rest of the family. There, Adam spends most of his days wandering around with a rifle on his back shooting at cans and checking out the vegetation and caves in the forest. When in the cabin, he looks at Deer Cam videos on an early version Pentium computer then at night suffers through dreams that border on hallucinations.

Brother Pete (Michael Daniel) who has problems of his own is the only one that visits Adam on occasion. Otherwise, he is left on is own isolated and cut off spending all of his time in is own head leading to in increasingly bizarre and freakish results. Evie meanwhile takes care of Nani in the family home trying to keep the fragments of her family together the best that she can.

Besides directing Graham, wrote, Dp'ed, Edited, Produced and hand wrote the opening credits of the film. The project took five years to complete with atmosphere over dialogue being the driving force of the production. The low lighting might have been a budgetary necessity but it helped produce a murky bordering on found footage quality where the viewer is not sure what they are seeing on screen which can both be confusing and a challenge mentally.  The format worked best as Adam cranked up the pixels on Deer Cam recorded events to reveal a presence that ramped up the psychosis to a peak level.

Sator is a study of family mental instability brought on by two generations of self-absorbed or worse indifferent matriarchs. The next generation is in taters with no prospects of another to follow. The dysfunction hits Adam the hardest leaving him isolated in exile with rational Evie dreading the consequence should one day he develop the energy or feel the need to come back home. The film will likely divide audiences with those up for the challenge finding it rewarding while others that are not exhausting.

**1/2 Out of 4.

Sator | Jordan Graham |  U.S.A. |2019 | 85 Minutes.

Tags: Spirit, Spirit Keeper, Isolation, Deer, Birthday Party, Camcorder, Rifle, Deer Skull, Deer Pelt, Gasoline Can, Match.

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.

Fantasia '19 Film Review - The Wretched

Ben (John-Paul Howard) who been acting out since learning of his parents plans to split up goes to spend the summer with his dad at a Northern Michigan boating community. Despite a broken arm, he lands a job working at the Marina where his dad is the manager. There he meets Mallory (Piper Curda) a sharp new colleague, his Dads current girlfriend Sarah (Azie Tesfai) and a group of spoiled rich kids that like to prank the new guy. The stage is set for a summer of sun, fun and moderate territorial battles but lurking in the woods beneath the root of an ancient twisted tree lies a witch with the power to inhabit and move between female bodies, render men docile servants with a whisper and an appetite for young children whose existence she wipes from the memory of loved ones and families minds.

Directors Brett and Drew Piece blend a couple of different witches from folklore to obtain the qualities they wanted in their monster. Being anti CGI they use practical effects wherever possible with Madelynn Stunkell as The Wretched in full costume and makeup covered in chocolate syrup interacting with the children giving the actors something tangible to react to. They also break the sacred Tennent of showing violent attacks on kids. From the prologue set 35 years in the past where The Wretched has occupied the body of the mother of the house feasting on her toddler in the basement. To the Witches appearance, present day snatching a baby from a crib and munching on its flesh.

Ben notices changes with his next door neighbour Abbie (Zarah Mahler) that are also picked up by her son Dillon (Blane Crockarell). The witches powers grow as she builds a shrine of rocks, branches, and skulls dotted with photos of those abducted, erased or set as the next target. Mahler is key in establishing the essence of the witch. How she takes hold of her intended host, shapeshifts into their skin, turning males into drone like servants while making them with a whisper into the ear forget about their small children. The exposition is done physically here which is much better than a stuffy subject matter expert giving a nauseating soliloquy on the topic.

The Wretched is full of classic horror elements. Evil living among us, animals and nature knowing what it is and reacting first, followed by kids, teenagers and lastly adults. The Pierce Brothers have taken their time here as storytellers to bring to the screen a physical, practical anti-structure horror  film that I can recommend.

*** Out of 4.

The Wretched | Brett & Drew Pierce | U.S.A. | 2019 | 95 Minutes

Tags: Prelogue, Seperation, Honor System, Marina, Casserole, Skinny Dipping, Ancient Fable, Salt, Child Abduction, Mind Control.

Fantasia '19 Film Review - 1BR

Sarah (Nicole Brydon Bloom) has moved to L.A. for a fresh start. She has a talent sketching and sewing planning to take a course locally to hone her craft and make new contacts. She is staying in a motel room, her Dad regularly calling her to come home believing that she does not have a solid plan. She works as a temp in a law firm for the worst kind of boss one who blames her mistakes on her subordinates and drops urgent projects on them at the last minute. She learns of a one-bedroom apartment available that would be perfect for her needs. Sarah goes to the open house almost walking out immediately seeing the number of interested parties. She is encouraged to stay by the Manager Jerry (Terry Nichols) who helps her to fill out the application where she gets stuck on the no pets question. Sarah gets the place, is warmly greeted by the residents who are more like a community especially handsome next-door neighbour Brian (Giles Matthey) who always seems to pop out of his apartment as she is walking past.

However, the dream apartment is not as advertised. At night the pipes creak and knock leaving her sleep deprived. Peculiar tenant Lester (Clayton Hoff) keeps staring at her from afar and she begins to get anonymous messages reminding her of the no pet policy meaning  that someone knows she smuggled in her pet cat Gyles. Plus everyone seems to have a copy of the book The Power of Community, that emphasizes Selflessness, Openness, Acceptance, and Security. The reality of the situation hits Sarah hard one night when she awakes to a burning smell and noise inside her apartment. The Asilo Del Mar residence are not as expected nor is their version of Community.

Director David Marmor researched many Groups / Utopian communities in crafting the story. L.A. is a breeding ground for them as many people escape to the city looking for a new beginning. Many may have left a trauma behind making them vulnerable to these entities. Here, Sarah is trying to put as much distance as she can between her and her father who cheated on her dying mom with the treating nurse. The tenents of these communities are a tool used to wedge the individual away from their family, friends, former life and into a state where the Group becomes their whole world.

1BR is an exercise that is autobiographical for Marmor. He moved to L.A. in his twenties, lacking confidence, entering a world that his parents didn't understand giving pause as he walked around waving to new faces. These groups are out there for the lost and traumatized. Scooping up new recruits each day disappearing them from their families and loved ones.

*** Our of 4.

1BR | David Marmor | U.S.A. | 2019 | 90 Minutes.

Tags: Los Angeles, Open House, Temp, Utopian, Community, Tennents, Brainwashing, Feline.

Fantasia '19 Film Review - Blood on Her Name

Leigh (Bethany Anne Lind) has just made a catastrophic mistake. She is in her auto repair shop Tiller's Auto with blood on her that's not her's staring at a body by the car hoist as a growing pool of blood forms. She is not unaccustomed to trouble. Her husband is in jail, her son Ryan (Jared Ivers) has to meet regularly with his parole officer and pee in a cup plus her dad works for the Sheriff's office but has fractured a serious rule on more than one occasion. Leigh grabs her cell phone to call 911 but stops. Deciding instead to get rid of the body setting in motion a series of events each making it harder to escape her inevitable fate over the likely result if she had made the call.

Director Matthew Pope who along with Don Thompson wrote the story of a series of desperate people living on the fringes in flyover country. Money is tight, prospects are worse and the players seem doomed to follow the behavioural patterns of the generation that came before. The writers put a sharp edge on the narrative that gives it bite. The wardrobe is mechanic grease and sweat stained with the beverages of choice being domestic beer and whiskey.

Bethany Anne Lind gives a strong physical performance as Leigh. She does a lot of heavy lifting but has an underlying sense of justice that can lead her astray. Will Patton is cut straight through to quick as Sheriff Department Officer Teller. He sizes up a situation ready to act whether the intended course adheres to or is against the law. Elizabeth Rohn is drawn into this conflict late as the victim's wife holding her wits well against the seasoned foes opposing her.

Blood on Her Name is a story that will hold interest throughout its brisk 85 minutes run time. It starts in the middle of the central event then introduces the well composed core group of characters who have depth seemingly from the moment they appear on the screen. It's a weighty presentation by a first time feature director that is well worth the watch.

*** Out of 4

Blood On Her Name | Matthew Pope | U.S.A. | 2019 | 85 Minutes.

Tags: Running Cars, Mechanic, Auto Repair Shop, Murder, Shrinkwrap, Parole, Necklace,  Colorado.

Fantasia '19 Film Review - Swallow

Hunter (Haley Bennett) seems to have everything anyone would want. Her husband Ritchie (Austin Stowell) is an extremely fit financial market heavyweight that has been just been promoted to run the family firm by his no-nonsense father (David Rasche) while her mother in law Katherine (Elizabeth Marvel) was in her shoes when she became Michael's bride offers on the balance helpful advice.

However, in the opening frames of film underlying issues emerge. She is ignored when she begins to speak as the three adults move on to more important issues. She lives in a remote glass house that her father in law bought. She appears to have no family, car or friends of her own with her only goal being to make Ritchie happy.

Events turn darker when she discovers that she is pregnant. Ritchie is elated telling his parents right away. Hunter begins to work on the nursery but in reality, she is losing more sense of herself, falling further into the tight grip of this high powered family. She reacts by ingesting unelidable objects, first a marble, then a push pin followed by a battery. In her mind, these small acts of rebellion give her back a sense of control until she winds up in the hospital needing surgery. The family now have reason to tighten to noose hiring Nurse / Babysitter / C.O.  Luay (Laith Nakli) "The Best in the Business" to watch her 24 hours a day.

Writer-Director Carlos Mirobella-Davis explores a topic that bubbles under popular discourse. The victim is viewed as lucky, the bruising is on the inside and not out and the damage is psychological and not physical.  The crux being Hunter is in a prison, with no say on what she does, who she sees, or what she can or can't do with her body. The most subtly chilling example of the latter occurs when Mother In Law Katherine comments on her hair and how Ritchie likes the hair on his girls long. Leading to obsessive touching of her bob likely thinking each time that it is making Ritchie unhappy.

Swallow is a psychological struggle of a young wife with whom many would gladly switch places. Haley Bennett produces a multi-layered performance as Hunter spanning the range from subservient to reckoner.  Austin Stowell is perfectly cast as the silver spoon neglectful husband while Laith Naki shines as the former Eastern European soldier turned Au-Pair. Look for Mirobella-Davis' unique way of weaponizing texting as a tool to show overt indifference.  It's an important look at a common yet ignored aspect of society where women in this predicament often are not helped or supported.

**** Out of 4.

Swallow | Carlos Mirobella-Davis | USA / France | 2019 | 94 minutes.

Tags: Job Promotion, Weaponized Texting, Pregnancy, Nursery, PICA Disorder, Self-Help Book, Surgery, Marble, Push Pin, Battery, Nail

San Diego Comic-Con '19 (Short ) Film Review - The Whistler

Rise and be Baptized, Rise and be Baptized, Rise and be Baptized is the opening refrain to The Whistler as an overhead shot sweeps along a river in the woods. Teenage Lindsay (Karis Cameron) openly displays her displeasure to her parents as they are dressed heading to a work dinner while she has to stay home and babysit her grade school-aged younger sister Rebecca (Baya Ipatowicz). Lindsay has no time for her younger sibling or Becky's missing pet rat Freddy knowing that she's missing out hanging with her friend Cara at THE party when Rebecca asks to hear a bedtime story pulling an oversize book from the shelf. Lindsay begins to read the kids tale of a passing visitor then stops to tell the real story of child abduction leading to nightmares for Becky and even high stake consequences for Lindsay.

Director Jennifer Nicole Stang checks off all of the essential horror elements in this 12-minute short. The suspense is palatable, the soundtrack helps to build the tension as liberal use of slow-moving overhead shots brings home the density, mystery, and danger that is the forest behind the Weaver home.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

The Whistler | Jennifer Nicole Stang | Canada | 2019 |12 Minutes.

Tags: Short Film, Babysitting, Texting, Bedtime Story, Traveler, Forest, Lantern, Woods, River, Sewing, Pet Rat.

The film will screen at San Diego Comic- Con Friday July 19th at 7:20 P.M. Marriott Grand Ballroom 6 Marriott Marquis & Marina Hotel.