Moon Garden

'Moon Garden' is a unique and beautiful movie. Sadly, viewers who don't have an active imagination will never understand it. 'Moon Garden' is a sublime metaphorical visualization of thoughts, memories and events - from a child's perspective.

'Moon Garden' tells the story of 5-year old Emma (brilliantly portrayed by Haven Lee Harris). One night, when she tries to stop her parents (played by Augie Duke and Brionne Davis) from fighting again, she slips and falls down the stairs, leaving her in a coma. Whilst in this state, she enters the Moon Garden. Doctors fighting for her life, become part of her unconscious mind in the most surreal manner. The visuals, make-up and practical effects are stunning, brought to life by excellent stop-motion photography.

This was a very demanding role for Haven Lee Harris and throughout the film her performance never ceased to amaze me. This little girl is given so much to do and she excels in every scene.

The film literally is the stuff nightmares are made of. It reminded me of a mix between 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'Rigor Mortis', and especially 'Imaginaerum', a film that shares a similar premise about a man suffering from dementia. Despite the bizarre imagery and somewhat weird narration, 'Moon Garden' is also an emotionally charged film - if you are able to interpret it, that is. This is a modern fantasy horror masterpiece and quite frankly one of the most amazing films I've seen lately. I feel so sorry for those who don't understand the film...

'Moon Garden' has to be seen to be believed! Every frame of every scene is perfection. The inclusion of Harry Nilsson's 'Without You' added a magical, yet emotional touch. 'Moon Garden' is an instant favourite.

This is sitting at a 6?! Thats a shame. If something with fairly low production values can still engage you and be visually stunning, that's an achievement. Add some very good acting and writing and you've got a classic. Kudos to young Haven Lee Harris, she carried an amazing, independent film extremely well on those little shoulders. Everyone else was great too so that is saying something. This is the kind of project Netflix or other streaming services should invest in. The filmmakers did an amazing job on what I can only assume is a shoestring budget. And yet I was dazzled by some seens in a way I rarely see in bigger budget films (the scene where the headless woman stands under the portraits comes to mind).

Very, very small budget.

Plenty of talent and creativity involved.

We enter the world where a comatose girl trying to get out of her difficult "situation".

A *very* small girl (and her potentially great talent for acting after this role) And this fantastic world is not always such a great place. But there's a lot more to this than what I'm telling you.

By the end, it brought a tear to my eye.

I'm kinda still in love with this film. It was something really special. I hope it gets seen by more people. Yes, it's derivative at first look, but also done whofully originally.

I went in blind and I recommend you also do so, with an open mind.

Only then you'll see through the eyes of a child, with psychologically-infused tones, a miraculously well-done child fantasy and horror experience.

Well done to Ryan Stevens Harris and his crew. Amazing creativity and talent in creating something really special with so little money.

If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy or have ever had a seizure induced by strobe lights, this is NOT FOR YOU. If the idea of that is disturbing for you, even though you are not epileptic, this is NOT FOR YOU. The cinematographer was given the leeway to produce a film that is consistently jarring, from the moment the audience enters the 'fantasy world' - the film style flashes.and jumps in absurdly rapid stop motion. Used more sparingly, this could have been effective as a scare tactic, but as it is, it is over-utilized, hard to watch and ruins the experience. Further, the production values are such that portions of the fantasy world feel as though (and probably were) filmed in someone's basement, with discarded hot water heaters and the like used to create monsters, some of it I believe was actually the filming of some kid's diorama project; even for an Indie film, this feels low end, like a first time passion project, rather than a professional film.

All of that said, the young actress is phenomenal, showcasing a sense of wonder, even among the horror elements and carries the film, but could carry a good film with a stronger script and production. The very picture of innocence, in stark contrast to just about everything else portrayed. The mother is also absolutely terrifying, even when it's not the intention of the scene. The fantasy world actors surpass expectations, but...

I would avoid this director and the mother actress again at all costs. The last few minutes are an uplifting redemption arc for the film, but it's too little, too late, in terms of quality.

I must admit, when I started watching this movie, I wasn't fully on board, but I found the movie grew on me as I watched it. It's not a great movie, by any means, but there were enough original ideas here to keep me watching. It's visually interesting, although we've seen most of these things before in the films Jan Svankmajer, Phil Tippett, and the Quay Brothers. The use of out-of-date film gives it a lomography look, which I like, but I can see where it might irritate some. As to the version of "Without You" that's sung in this film, it sounds like it was based on Harry Nilsson's version, not Mariah Carey's (or the original by Badfinger). Far less Melisma and the vocal fry.

Just a note on one of the other reviews here which claims that favorable reviews are all done by people who did not review any other movies. My research indicates this not to be the case. Of the 10 star reviews here, only two are by people who reviewed no other movies (although I do agree with that reviewer that you should treat 10 star reviews by people who haven't reviewed anything else with suspicion). This is clearly a divisive movie, but if you can tap into it's aesthetic, it can be a rewarding experience.