SMP Reviews
|
The Shade, directed by Tyler Chipman, tells the story of a twenty-year-old who is finding it hard to keep his family together after the traumatic death of his father. Ryan juggles trying to have a normal social life while taking care of his little brother when his mother is working. Ryan also suffers from anxiety which he fights to keep in check. When his older brother Jason comes home for a surprise visit mid semester, things get more complicated. Jason seems to be in a very dark place mentally. While Ryan tries to understand what is going on with Jason, he starts seeing a grotesque figure in the shadows that appears to be stalking him. Ryan soon finds himself trying to protect his younger brother from this creature - but is the creature real or is there something deeper and scarier going on?  The Shade is an unnerving slow burn horror film that doesn’t go for the immediate scares. It is more atmospheric in its horror, building the tension like a slow descent into madness. The figure Ryan sees stays in the shadows or dimly lit hallways for most part, there only a couple of moments where we see it in all its grotesque glory, and it is disturbing. The creature is there for more than just shock value, it is a representation of the mental illness that runs in the family. When Jason arrives at home, depression seems to have already overtaken him. While it is not directly addressed, you get the idea that he has already been having visions of this creature. Then Ryan starts to see the creature and we can see his behavior start to change, though he seems to be fighting it better than his older brother. His youngest brother James seems to be the one least affected by everything that is going on. It was interesting to see these three different stages. All of them are conveyed effectively by the performance of our lead.  Chris Galust is fantastic as Ryan. You feel his struggles as he tries to juggle all the different aspects of being a twenty-something while also managing the household. His anxiety attacks were not over acted and the various emotions he goes through felt authentic. Jason is played by Dylan McTee who also puts in a very grounded performance. You can tell he is fighting his inner feelings of depression and grief. There is something going on underneath the surface that he is reluctant to tell anyone about. Instead, it begins to overtake him. Sam Duncan does a great job as James. He seemed like a normal kid who cares for his older brothers and has a hard time understanding what is going on with them. The dynamic between these three made it seem like they were true brothers. Their relationship is the real heart of the story.  There are not a lot of special effects in The Shade, but the effects used are very effective. I loved the makeup on the creature. It is a very shocking image when we get the full reveal. The lightning used added to the characters overall scariness and it will definitely make your skin crawl. There are a number of other mysterious figures that show up that look like dark priests. The design of their look made them very foreboding. They show up sparingly, which I appreciated.
Mental Illness is not something new to horror. The Shade manages to present it in a unique way.There were a few surprises and its final image scene is definitely one I won’t forget anytime soon. While it leans a little more into the drama aspect than the horror, there are still plenty of hair raising moments. Add to that a solid, talented cast, and I think it is worth a watch.
0 Comments
 Melissa O. Bowen - Unnatural ©2023 Little Monster Entertainment Religion and the supernatural collide in a new horror western from filmmaker Whit Whitman called Unnatural. Dan Remington is a hunter of monsters. He was tasked with this purpose by God as penance for his past transgressions. While on the trail of a werewolf, he ends up crossing paths with his two grandkids. Due to an unfortunate loss, the two children end up tagging along with their estranged grandfather. The pair soon find themselves helping Remington with his mission as he is called to free a town from the control of a vampire sheriff. Unnatural is a creative and entertaining period horror story that has vampires, werewolves, ghosts, gunfighters, and a lot of heart. Writers Don Perrin and Whitman give us a character driven screenplay that focuses more on the humans than the fantastic. There is not a large amount of action or blood for that matter which is an interesting choice given the subject. They explore family dynamics and the effect of losing a loved one has on that. Remington is literally haunted by the love of his life, as well as other ghosts, but can’t see them. His granddaughter can see ghosts but can’t hear them. It is only together that they can truly be with their wife/grandmother. This alludes to the idea that only when the family stays together can they honor the memory of lost family members. Then there is the town being controlled by a sheriff Vampire. As we meet them we get the perspective of what people are willing to sacrifice in order to stay “safe”. The vampire seems to get more out of the deal than the townsfolk, resembling an abusive relationship. Then there is the subject of redemption, handled through our main character Remington.  Al Snow - Unnatural © 2023 Little Monster Entertainment Al Snow puts in one of his best performances as the seasoned gunslinger turned monster hunter. He plays this character with sincerity and subtly. You can feel the weight he is carrying of his sins and also his resolve in his mission from God. He is also a humble man who just wants to go about his work. He is not afraid to knock someone’s teeth out to accomplish that task though. The strongest part of his performance is with his interaction with the kids. His handling of their needs and banter felt very natural. I loved this character and hope to see more of him. Remington’s grandkids are played by Charlee Carmicle and Samuel Wilson. They were an interesting pair. Carmicle’s Jess is a girl strong in her convictions and her abilities to see ghosts. She is the more spiritual of the pair. Samuel Wilson’s Junior is a boy who is very good at fixing almost anything. He is more of the scientific one and they balance each other nicely. Then there is our vampire sheriff played by John Wells. He was the perfect opposite to Remington. Wells gives his Sherriff Roddy Hawkin the suave, wickedly arrogant personality you would expect from a vampire. He brought a great energy to his scenes.  Charlee Carmicle - Unnatural © 2023 Little Monster Entertainment The costuming and production design are good enough to sell the idea this is the old west. The town looked the part, though it was a little too clean and polished. I would have liked to see a little more mud and dirt on things but when you are working on a limited budget you can only do so much. There were also a few scenes where the CGI blood was very obvious. I wish they had chosen not to have any blood at all like the old westerns. The cinematography was well done. I appreciate the restraint in the use of drone shots. It made the few overhead drone shots they had more effective. Dialogue in the film felt period-appropriate. I did have to chuckle though, every time Remington mentioned he was on a “mission from God”, but you can blame The Blues Brothers for that. With the interesting blend of the supernatural, faith, and creature-feature, there is something here for everyone. I was not sure what to expect going into the film. When the credits rolled I did not feel my time was wasted and I wanted to see more of Dan Remington in action. If you enjoy western horror films then I think you will get a kick out of Unnatural.  © Little Monster Entertainment  An increasing number of faith-based films have come onto the scene over the past ten years. While they started out being debate films filled with exposition of opposing views and retelling of biblical stories, they have since branched out into the horror and action genres. One recent film fits into the later category; Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace from Director Ali Zamani which is a follow up to Angels Fallen. Gabriel, a soldier who was wounded in combat, is called by a higher power to help save the world from being overrun by an army of demons led by the archangel Michael. Gabriel assembles his old team for the mission but realizes they cannot do it alone. They soon join up with a group of warriors who are experienced in demonic warfare. It will take everyone’s strength and faith to save the world.  Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace is a melodramatic and cheesy action film with a campy spirit that is rooted in faith. It is a mixed bag of good and bad. I enjoyed the world-building in the story, from the rules the Warriors of Peace follow to the existence of demons to the production design. All of it was a fun world to experience. I particularly enjoyed the “Q” scene where our heroes are called to an armory full of demon fighting weapons which is run by Deborah, well played by Denise Richards. Richards looked like she was having fun and even got a chance to spill some demonic blood. I also enjoyed Balthazar, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., taking over the role played by Michael Madsen in the previous film. He gets to flex his muscles a bit in a flashback scene fighting demons on a really cool stone bridge. The action scenes are well choreographed and involved. Both the fight scenes in the strip club and a motorcycle chase had decent stunts and were well directed. Even the fight with the CGI demons was not half bad. Then there was the unexpected blood and nudity that made it a bit edgier than many other films of this type.  All of these positive elements were not enough to cover up the roughest aspect of Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace: the screenplay. It really could have used more work. The dialog was uninspired and very on the nose. The majority of the characters were one note with very little distinguishing one from the other. This impacted the performances of the cast which ranged from decent to ok. Josh Burdett plays Gabriel with the weight needed for the character. You can feel his struggle with his faith, beliefs, and see him being a leader to his squad. Michael is played by Michael Teh and his performance is the best, possibly because he has some of the better dialog. Teh plays the heavy with the right balance of confidence and darkness. The rest of the cast do well enough with the screen time they have, but they all could have used better written characters and dialog. The CGI looked far better than many indie films with the same budget but when it was bad, it was very noticeable. The music could have also been better, but when working on smaller budgets score usually takes a back seat.  Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace is one of the better faith-based films to come out in recent years. It’s mature edge helps make it more accessible to adults and it never gets too saccharine. The preachiness is still there but it at least wears its beliefs on its sleeve and isn’t trying to convert its audience. The production value is high, and it had a bit of a Buffy The Vampire Slayer vibe to it. Overall I was more entertained than I thought I would be. I think if you enjoy this genre of film, you should seek it out.
 A new independent neo-noir murder mystery is out that combines classic mystery elements with social commentary. King Saud is about two detectives who have to put their differences aside to solve the murder of a Saudi prince who was killed along with a high-priced sex worker. The two are pressured to solve the case before it becomes a national incident. As they draw closer to the answers, dark secrets about the department begin to surface, as well feelings between the two detectives. The question is, are they just playing each other to uncover secrets? Is there more to the murder than what it seems? Is there a chance for redemption among any of the characters?  Director and writer Mark Toma brings us an interesting murder mystery that has more layers than expected. Putting the story on an international scale raises the stakes and is a great additional knot for the detectives to unravel. There is not a lot of action going on as this is a character-driven piece. A lot of scenes are conversations that range from police corruption to gender inequality to class warfare to name just a few topics. Outside of one or two scenes, it doesn’t get preachy, and the conversations are woven into the web of standard murder mystery inquiries. The conversations are kept interesting thanks to the performances of the talented cast.  Kate Orsini plays Detective Lynch, a new detective to the department who is paired with the seasoned veteran Detective Wolfe, played by Mark Toma. They start off as the good cop bad cop dynamic, but it soon develops into more. Orsini portrays Lynch initially as the straight laced cop but you can tell that she is carrying a secret. She is a tough, no BS character who turns her frustration over how she is treated into a strength. Detective Wolfe is one who wears most of his feelings and frustration on his sleeve though you can tell he also harbors some secrets. He is not all bad though, and there is a soft heart under his hardened, I-am-getting-too-old-for-this-shit exterior. Two of the suspects end up being the most interesting characters. Rachel Alig is Carlucci, the madame of the high end sex worker service. She is a strong, complex, dark character who you will love to hate. Just when you think you have her figured out, another layer is added. My favorite character is the servant of the prince who was killed, Al Mahir, played by Mike Saad. I loved every scene he was in. His personality fills the screen and is the most entertaining. He gets some of the most meaty dialog, which is deserved. I love where they took this character by the end.  There is a lot of social commentary which might turn some viewers off. I feel that this could have been trimmed down. We are able to pick up what the director is laying down in most scenes rather quickly and do not need them to linger as long as they do. Towards the end, some character decisions felt forced. These are minor faults in an otherwise interesting film.
If you enjoy a dark, gritty slower burn murder mystery you will enjoy King Saud. The larger statements the director is trying to make about politics and people are not distracting at all. The performances really drive this story to a satisfying ending. I give it 3.5 stubs.  If you have been following The Final Cut then the name Nicholas Michael Jacobs may sound familiar. One of the first projects of Jacobs’ we covered was a short film titled “Genevieve”. It was a micro-budget independent horror film about a thief who encounters a possessed doll while robbing a house. Four years and seven Genevieve films later, the series will be coming to an epic finale in Genevieve Burns and we have the teaser trailer for it. According to the synopsis, Genevieve Burns is about a priest who encounters the possessed porcelain doll, Genevieve. The doll makes his life a living hell and he decides he must bring the terror of Genevieve to an end.
In true indie fashion, Jacobs will be wearing a number of hats in the filming of Genevieve including playing the tormented priest. While the Genevieve films have been made on a micro-budget, I have found them entertaining and I am really looking forward to seeing this final chapter. For more information, check out the IMDB link below. \https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32613511/  The Exorcism from director Joshua John Miller is a story about Anthony Miller, a down and out former alcoholic and addict actor who lands the role in a remake of a famous horror film after the original star of the remake suffered a deadly accident on the set. At the same time, Anthony’s estranged daughter Lee comes to live with him after being kicked out of school. As the filming goes on, Anthony’s behavior becomes strange and erratic, leaving his daughter to wonder if he has fallen back on his old habits or if there is something darker taking hold of her father.  The best description for The Exorcism is the same description the on-screen director gave about the remake they were making; “a psychological drama wrapped in the skin of a horror movie.” The story here is more about exorcizing your inner demons than it is about demonic possession. Russell Crowe puts in one of his best performances as Anthony. You feel the character’s depression, struggles with addiction, and challenges he is facing in the unforgiving industry that is Hollywood. You can also feel his confusion as he tries to work out if the cause of his behavior is because of his vices or due to an actual demon inside him. You are sympathetic towards him and his daughter who still loves him but can’t forgive him for his past actions. Ryan Simpkins puts in a solid performance as Lee, and has a great connection with Crowe. The two felt like an authentic father/daughter pair, and that dynamic is the heart of the film. I also liked the chemistry between Simpkins and Chloe Bailey who plays Blake Holloway, one of Anthony’s co-stars. I would have liked to see Bailey get more screen time. Blake was mostly there to be the love interest for Lee but thanks to Bailey’s performance, you could tell there are more layers that were never explored.  There are a lot of meta references going on in The Exorcism. It is directed by the son of Jason Miller who played Damien Karras in The Exorcist. A number of sets in the movie within the movie are very similar to sets in The Exorcist, especially the bedroom. Some of the lines of dialog Anthony Miller has are also very similar to Damien’s dialog. The idea that the movie being made is cursed is a reference to the idea that the original Exorcist film was cursed. This parallel is enforced with Peter, the director of the remake. Peter is played by Adam Goldberg, and I do not think it is a coincidence he looks very similar to John Landis. Landis directed Twilight Zone: The Movie which is also considered to be a cursed film.  After the opening scare, it takes a while for The Exorcism to get into a full horror groove. There are creepy demonic moments peppered along the way but it doesn’t get back to being full-blown horror until the final fifteen minutes. The moments we do get are very effective, such as a subtle gimmick they do with Crowes’ eyes and a rather abrupt and brutal kill of a supporting character. Many old-school techniques are used such as a disturbing sound design, with use of shadows and a moody soundtrack to help underscore the creepy tension. For those looking for wall-to-wall horror or foul mouth tirades punctuated with excessive amounts of bodily fluid being thrown across the room, The Exorcism will not be for you. If you are looking for a horror themed drama about inner reflection, coming to terms with your past actions and starting the process of healing then you will want to check it out. As a straight horror film, I would give it 2.5 out of 5 but as a dramatic film with horror elements I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 for the direction and the excellent performance of Russell Crowe. #theexorcism   Do you ever wonder what the time in between victims was like for Jason Vorhees or Michael Meyers? The walking from destination to destination? Director and writer Chris Nash decides to answer that question with In a Violent Nature, an indie slasher film that is told from the perspective of the slasher. Not just any type of slasher, specifically the camp slasher. In a Violent Nature, a couple of campers end up taking a locket they find hanging from a hook in a collapsed fire tower. This awakens the body of Johnny, a victim of a sixty-year-old crime. This resurrected soul leaves a trail of blood and guts in its wake as it searches for the stolen locket and seeks revenge on those who stole it.  In A Violent Nature is a creative approach to a straightforward story we have seen many times before. For the majority of the film, the audience follows behind Johnny as he makes his way to his victims, similar as if you were watching a character in a video game. Nash changes things up visually when Johnny goes in for a kill, and we get tracking shots through the rooms of a house, reverse angles where we can see Johnny coming up behind his victim, and one campfire scene that gives us a brief look at the group of campers Johnny is going to kill. The kills are brutal and gory. The practical gore effects are amazing and one of the highlights. The work of Cinematographer Pierce Derks really helped keep things interesting visually. I particularly liked the moments when the camera would stop and stay static as Johnny walked out of focus towards his prey. There is also solid editing of Johnny’s walking scenes to help convey the passage of time so you know how long he has been walking, without having to experience the full length of travel.  Johnny is played by Ry Barrett who does an excellent job in embodying many of the silent slasher characters that have come before. I caught hints of Michael Meyers, a lot of Jason Vorhees, and even some Cropsy from The Burning. He also brings in his own nuance to the character, especially once he acquires the mask and weapon of choice, two big hooks connected with a chain. He is a silent character so what little emotion he feels is shown through body language. Barrett emotes these feelings perfectly with just a head tilt or gesture. The true hero of this film is not in front of the camera, but behind it. The entire sound department should get top billing for their wonderful work in the sound design. Sound is so important in horror and this team nailed it in every aspect. From the sounds in the woods, to the crunching of leaves, to the smashing of heads, all of it helped put you right there behind Johnny. With no music soundtrack to speak of, the sounds stood out even more.  There was room for improvement in a few of the scenes. One involves a kill later in the movie that seemed a bit out of character. I don’t want to spoil it, but I will say given what we had seen of Johnny by that point in the movie, I would have expected a bit more. There is also something they do with Johnny during a scene involving a mini car on a keychain that I wish they had not done as it took away some of the mystery for me. The ending could have been shorter as there is a setup with no real payoff, just exposition. While I get what they may have been going for, it didn’t quite work for me. In A Violent Nature is a very creative slasher film that takes some risks bucking the expectations one may have for this type of story. It gets top marks for all of the technical aspects while having room for improvement on the story. I can see why many horror fans are divided on it. I find it a refreshing change from many other slashers and can find myself watching it again sometime. If you are looking for something different in your slasher film, this one definitely is going to be for you.   The effects of abuse and mental illness are a common subject in the horror genre. Using horror to explore these topics is a very effective way to convey what the victims go through everyday. There is a new feature film on Amazon Prime that addresses this topic with a supernatural spin. Actress and Producer Nicole Nigalia makes her feature film debut with Porcelain. In Porcelain, Elise learns her estranged father had passed away forcing her to return to her childhood home with her boyfriend to handle the estate. While in her childhood home, she begins to feel as if something sinister is in the house haunting her. Soon the line between reality and nightmare blurs as her past comes back to haunt her.  Porcelain is an emotionally dark, sharply executed dramatic horror film that keeps you guessing. The viewer joins Elise’s descent into darkness as she is continually triggered by various items in the house, like the old dolls she played with as a kid. I loved the uneasy atmosphere that is conveyed every time we are inside the home. The director also helps maintain the question of “Is the house actually haunted or is it Elise that is internally haunted by the abuse of her past?” There are not a lot of special effects, but there is some creative camera work by cinematographer Richard Trejo that helps keep things creepy. The dolls help enhance the horror even though they do not move or do any Chucky-like things. The story is played very straight and with the seriousness needed given the subject matter.  Nigalia is not only behind the camera but also in front of it as Elise. She puts in an emotionally charged performance that could not have been easy to pull off while also directing. She drifts from being feeling disconnected emotionally to her boyfriend, to loving him, to being overwhelmed by forces in the home tormenting her. As things about Elise’s past come to the surface, you feel major sympathy for her. You also feel sympathy for Caleb, her boyfriend played by Hunter Johnson. When we meet him he seems a little possessive and quick to jealousy. But as the story unfolds, we see how much he loves Elise. He goes through his own challenges as he weighs staying with the woman he loves, who is suffering from mental illness, or just leaving. All of that comes through thanks to Johnson’s performance.  What stood out most is the portrayal of someone suffering from mental illness due to abuse. This is sometimes handled either too softly or is portrayed so over the top it feels like it is almost comical. Porcelain addresses it just right. You feel for the victim, understand why they are the way they are and also feel for those around them who just want to help even when the victim refuses it. Given my own personal experiences, I related with both on a number of levels, making watching what Elise goes through tough in certain scenes.  This is a character driven, slow and steady horror film that may not be for those looking for a scare a minute. While there are scary supernatural elements to the story, Elise’s breakdowns are even more scary, especially for those who have experienced something similar in real life. This isn’t going to be for all horror fans but if you enjoy solid, psychological dramatic horror stories then you will want to watch Porcelain.
 Indie filmmakers make getting the most out of limited resources an art form. One recent film that is a good example of this is Dog Bites Man from Director Vincent Zambrano. While on a weekend getaway, a couple is attacked by a dog from a local village. While trying to contact the local dog warden, a rock is thrown through a window of the farmhouse they are staying in. When trying to escape they find the air has been let out of their tires, cell phones are locked in their car, and the dog has returned. They now find themselves trapped in the vacation house, cut off from the outside world and unwilling participants in a new Civil War.  Dog Bites Man is a completely character driven, dialog heavy movie that progresses like a stage play. I felt it was a really creative way to tell the story as well as cover the many topics discussed. When we are first introduced to our two characters, Darm and Evo, the initial dog attack has already happened. Darm, played by Andrew Rogers, is a poet who initially seems to be the braver of the two. Cade Morrison’s Evo is the more “ one. The dynamic between the two fluctuates throughout the movie. Overall, Darm seems to be more level-headed, but there are moments of paranoia and fear that seep through the cracks. When this happens, Evo then becomes the more rational of the two. Their topics of debate range from local bigotry towards their lifestyle, to anti-intellectualism, to whether they should just continue to try and enjoy their weekend regardless of the potential threat outside their door. These back and forth interactions explore how quickly things can escalate to “Us vs Them” and if such thinking is actually warranted. There is a running gimmick with the two debating if they should eat the ice cream in the kitchen or not. While this is funny, it also is an example of trying to find something comforting to latch on to while your brain is running a mile a minute in fear.  The direction and camera work kept things interesting considering the story focuses on just two people in one location. While much of the story is the banter between Evo and Darm, Zambrano does an excellent job of reminding the audience and the characters of the threat outside. These moments tend to happen just when our pair seems to be getting comfortable. I felt the message that was trying to be conveyed is that you always need to be on guard with your beliefs because they are always being challenged. If you get too comfortable, those beliefs could be squashed. There were a couple of times I questioned where the story was going. It was at those moments that things took a turn and the message became clearer.
Dog Bites Man is a talk-heavy film with a lot to unpack. This would be a very fitting movie to be shown in colleges to spark discussions, or possibly translated into a stage play. If you are looking for an action-filled story or a slap-your-knee type of comedy, then this is not going to be for you. But if you are interested in watching debates on current cultural topics performed by two very talented, charismatic individuals in a stage-like setting, then you will want to check this out. Dog Bites Man is now available on Amazon Prime Video: www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CV2KM2GS/  Holly Blair - Girl Upstairs Agoraphobia has been used quite often in film. The idea of being afraid of the outside world presents an opportunity to explore different aspects of human nature. It is also something that I think resonates with more people after the pandemic. Girl Upstairs is about Dulce, a successful artist who has a major case of agoraphobia. She lives a secluded life in an apartment above a movie theater, with her only human interaction being with her agent on the phone. In a recent shipment of art supplies, Dulce finds a number of rolled up skins. Her agent sent them to her for inspiration. Dulce discovers that what she paints on the skins will come to life. Soon, she has two new friends to keep her company. Unfortunately, one of her new companions does not share in Dulce’s desire to stay away from the outside world. Things take a dark turn as the drive to explore the world outside overrides Dulce’s insistence to stay inside.  Gustavo Centra & Holly Blair - Girl Upstairs Director Kevin Van Stevenson gives us a dark, slowly burning drama that will keep you intrigued with unpredictability. As we learn more about the main character, you'll come to understand how suffering a very traumatic event as a child can affect a person later in life. Dulce is a complex character played perfectly by Holly Blair. Blair shows a full range of emotion, from the childlike delight at the sight of her crush, to the torment she feels from her past, and the deep-seated fear of the outside world. Child-like is also a good way to describe Gustavo Centra’s Webster. This is the first creation to come to life, and he is almost a blank canvas. Dulce takes it upon herself to teach her new companion about the basics of being human. The interaction he has with Dulce reminded me a bit of the interaction between Edward Scissorhands and Kim, Winona Ryder’s character in that movie. Dulce seems to have a subconscious joy in having control over Webster. She discourages him from going out into the world and he complies. This dynamic gets upheaved when Webster asks for Dulce to bring one of her other paintings to life; a portrait of a woman Dulce names Mimi.  Sara Catherine Bellamy - Girl Upstairs Sara Catherine Bellamy is Mimi, who is completely the opposite of Webster. She learns quicker, has her own ideas, is confident and defiant. Mimi also has a darker, devilish side. I loved how Bellamy was able to convey this through her facial expressions as well as her line delivery. There is a scene involving the three having dinner where Mimi is so mischievous that she gets Webster into trouble. The look on her face as she did it was chilling. It is left to the audience to decide why Mimi is more advanced in development when compared to Webster. I think it is because the Mimi painting has been around longer. It was a painting that Dulce talked to often, sometimes even insulted. Mimi’s drive to see the outside world changes the power structure between the three, culminating in a shocking yet thought provoking ending. Girl Upstairs is not going to be for those looking for a high-tension drama or dark thriller. This one is for the fans of character-driven slow-burns that keep you guessing until the end and beyond. There are no fancy special effects, save for some wonderful practical gimmicks at the end. The strength of the film comes from the solid performances by the three principal actors and the clever direction of Stevenson, making it worth a watch. You can check out the trailer for Girl Upstairs below and see it on Tubi now. |
AuthorI have been reviewing films since high school. I love discussing films with those who share my passion for them. I also do video reviews on YouTube and on my podcast. Archives
November 2025
Categories
|
RSS Feed