Fang

Well written script about a subject that, on some levels, something we've all felt, struggled with and have experienced. The mental illness journey that the main character endures is fascinating, eerie and real.

The relationship between the elder parent and him depicts a clash of something he must do out of necessity and love vs wanting the responsibility of it all to end. The mother actor was very good in portraying her own slip with reality.

But when he breaks, he breaks hard into an abyss that he could never escape....though he tried. You have the relationship building, suspense and even a bit of gore.... something for everyone!

FANG is a great, compelling film that is both a body horror film and a psychological horror film. The main character, played by Dylan LaRay, has some autistic tendenceis and pretty miserable life. He has a terrible job with a horrible boss and he lives with his mother, who has serious physical and mental problems. She suffers from Parkinson's Disease and her condition is rapidly deteriorating. Lowry gives one of her greatest performances, able to change her mood and tone very quickly, as when she gets angry. She can be a monster at times, but at other times can be a good mother. After Dylan gets bitten by a rat, he starts growing fur on his arms, and this is where the film becomes a gross Cronenbergian body horror film.

The acting is first rate- in fact, I am still angry at Dylan's boss for being such a jerk. LaRay is incredible and gives a strong emotional performance. He evidences some traits of schizophrenia and through his art and comic book drawing, he has created a new universe for himself, as he does not seem to fit in this one. His acting is great but Lynn Lowry steals the film. I have been a fan of hers for my entire life and this is one of her most serious and intense roles. At times, she is truly evil and tyrannical, at other times she is weak and vulnerable. At all times her acting is superb and realistic.

There are several other things that elevate this film to a modern classic.

First is the beautiful cinematography, and second is the editing, which is innovative and realistic and propels the story forward. The chemistry between the two leads is great and when the kid and his mother are arguing things get really exciting.

According to IMDB, this is the first full length film from director Richard Burgin. This is hard to believe, because the film is so well made that I assumed while watching it that the director had more experience. He is definitely someone to watch and I look forward to his next film. With its harsh look at autism, schizophrenia and Parkinsons Disease, this film does a great job at capturing these illnesses in its characters, and fans of psychological suspense (and body horror) are sure to enjoy this great film with its realistic performances of degeneration, angst, frustration, anger, and jealousy.

Like a combination of Requiem for a Dream, Donnie Darko, American Psycho, and Adam Wingard's films. It's rare to see such a strong and vivid madcap sense of humor in a low-budget indie film. The movie keeps progressing and escalating toward madness. You could take it as a metaphor for growing up and leaving the nest. The performances are all very much on point. And the camerawork, editing, and direction exhibit a level of impeccable craftsmanship that at times touches mastery. It operates with a strong cult classic vibe. There were hypnotic stretches where I was sitting there like, "Holy god almighty this is awesome." Very strong, strange trip that will absorb and zap you. Richard Burgin is definitely a filmmaker to watch.

I saw Fang at a festival in Madison and was blown away by this dark, twisted, but very entertaining movie which blends surreal body horror and domestic psychological dread, with a mother/son dynamic so dysfunctional, it rivals Norman Bates' maternal bond in Psycho. It helps that both performances by mother and son are electric and delightfully unpredictable, each tick and quirk feels earned. They are compulsively watchable and so is the film. I really felt transported into a subjective dreamscape that unravels into a nightmare. But despite some really immersive visuals and sound design, Fang never loses focus on its characters, keeping it grounded despite the fantastical premise. It's hard to believe this is a debut low-budget feature because it's already got such a distinct authorial voice and is so well put together in all aspects. It looks and sounds incredible and really sucks you in!

I was impressed by the cinematography of the film. The colors and camera angles really added a lot to the story. The writing was so thought-out and impressive. The son's telling of the characters he created was so in depth and creative...I'd love to see a movie about that, as well! The scene where the mother (Lynn Lowry) was watching her favorite tv show and "laughing" was one of the best. I immediately was impressed by it and replayed the scene a few times to REPEATEDLY feel creeped out by her laugh! One of my favorites! The relationship between the mother and son is both caring and creepy. Love that! Can't wait to see more.