Pesadilla

I didn't know what to expect when starting this film. I love a story that hooks you straight from the start, and this one does.

Early on, I thought I knew where it was going, but there were several twists and turns I didn't expect. Great performances from the entire cast with compelling dialogue and stories that worked well on their own in addition to weaving together seamlessly to convene for the finale.

And the finale-this film had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I yelled and screamed at the TV in shock, and I'm thoroughly impressed with what I experienced and look forward to seeing it again.

I'm going to say right off the bat-would I watch this film again? Maybe, but not for a while. That said, I was not expecting it to go where it did. I'm leaving this review because right now, future filmmakers are on platforms like Tubi and Amazon, and there will always be trolls who leave low ratings just to be trolls. But I understand what this film was going for, and I can see how it could be exactly what someone is looking for-especially if they go in with no expectations.

To be honest, I probably would've landed right in the middle on this film if it weren't for the last 15 minutes. That final stretch burned away any preconceived ideas I had, making the rest of the film that much more enjoyable in hindsight. My biggest fear while watching was that it would lead to some kind of shootout between the grandpa and the intruders-but it wasn't. IT WASN'T. And I was relieved.

Quite frankly, I don't see how anyone could give this film lower than a five. Sure, not everything will resonate with everyone, but at an hour and 52 minutes, it feels shorter than its runtime and introduces some of the most unique themes I've ever seen in a film this small in scale. It features sinister dialogue-including a bizarre yet compelling reference to The Andy Griffith Show-a whole therapy technique developed specifically for one character that drives the narrative, family subject matter most films wouldn't dare to touch, horrifying imagery, and dialogue that, while sometimes odd, honestly made me chuckle.

This film is by no means perfect, and again, I don't know when I'd rewatch it, but it's undeniably a singular vision. Films like this don't deserve a one-star rating just because someone's in a bad mood. There's definitely room for improvement, but I applaud the filmmakers for actually trying to create something unique in today's climate. It probably could have been executed a bit better, but if I were the director, I'd make sure to go all in from now on-bringing in people with the same passion and expertise to elevate the craft.

Also, the soundtrack? It kind of rocks. At times, it sounds like something out of old Hollywood rather than the same synthetic cues we hear in most films of this scale.

I didn't love this film, but I also didn't hate it. More than anything, I respect it.

There's something so engaging and dangerous about a film that manages to come off this rabid while consistently keeping control and maintaining a legitimate creative voice toward a bigger end. I think an unfamiliar, unwilling eye might minimize what makes this great down into something comparable to intentional subversion because it's easier to say that than attempt to draw a challenged throughline for your own takeaways to stand on, but in my opinion, sifting through the thematic grief collage this film layers upon itself as it unspools, what's actually flowing through Pesadilla is so much more endearing than that. There's an emotional undercurrent carrying a lot of face-value cynicism in a way that basically forces its juxtaposition upon contact; think like a less clinical, more fleshy take on what Michael Haneke does. There's nothing one-dimensional here even if it tastes that way at first and Dylan Anglin obviously understands that there's no easy answers within this kind of subject material. It's not really a horror movie, it's a sweaty, manic, levitating broken thermometer pouring out its mercury and I love it for that. This is some DIY chaos magic renaissance'd from that late 90's miracle zone of indie filmmaking where risks got taken that are definitely not safe and the film CONSTANTLY benefits from it. The soundtrack, acting and adventurousness of the shot composition pretty substantially transcends the budget at all times and I would love to see what this man could do with a million bucks.

It has been a while since I've professionally reviewed anything, but I'd like to give it another go, especially with films that might have flown under the radar. This day and age, I find myself watching a lot of indie films, A lot of the times on Tubi, and this time on Amazon and figured I'd give it a watch (The two cows on the poster sold it). When I first watched Pesadilla, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Sure, it had some issues.. the soundtrack mixing was a little off, though, to be fair, I have that complaint with a lot of Hollywood films as well. I can't imagine the director thought that everybody would go for this film, so I initially wrote it off as something that just wasn't for me. But then I sat on it. I went to bed, and my mind kept going back to the last five minutes. And I have to give credit where it's due when this film commits to an idea, it really goes for it. That's both its biggest flaw and its most encouraging trait. It's too ambitious for what it's trying to be, but honestly, that's exactly why I ended up liking it.

Most micro-budget short films tend to go the slasher route or suffer from poorly written dialogue, but Pesadilla defies those expectations. The dialogue outside, in particular the conversation with Gramps, played by Mike Davis (who was phenomenal, by the way) felt chilling and haunting in a way I've rarely seen in micro-budget films. There was one moment where a creature's hand jumped into frame, and I initially thought it was the cheesiest part of the whole thing. But then I realized, it worked. It made me jump, and that's when it clicked for me: this film is the work of someone who truly loves the medium. Someone who wants to create something great but is restricted by budget and resources. And in this day and age, that's a challenge filmmakers have to push through. And let's talk about the creature, I did not find it scary but if you look at it as a metaphorical presence, it works a lot better then it just being something in a house stalking people.

I'd be fibbing if I said I wasn't interested in revisiting Pesadilla. Maybe I'll like it less on a rewatch, or maybe I'll appreciate it even more. Some of the key takeaways, some performances were definitely stronger than others, it's not a make or break, but I really think casting is a huge deal, especially when you're working bare bones and there's nothing you can do. I'm torn on the overall direction because one part of me wants to say "Hey tone it back" And another part wants me to say "what's going on in this singular mind?". But one thing's for sure nearly two hours long, and there's something happening in every scene. Yes people will view this as an amateurish film, but it's one of the better and ballsy "amateurish films"I've seen.

There really isn't another film like PESADILLA. Bizarre and unpredictable, and the characters are outlandish and fun. Dylan Anglin's made some other short films and they all have twists and turns and are funky. Kapadia's character is particularly weird and off-kilter. What's amazing is how a film like this can be brought o life on such a minimal budget. This would've been very difficult even 20 years ago. It's nice the film is available on several platforms, as more films like this should be given attention. So, if you're ready to step away from the usual Hollywood pap and slow-burn blah blah, jump in. Highly recommended!