Pollen

An innocent young woman, who has recently landed her dream job, gets roped into a toxic sexual relationship with a senior coworker.

As a result of the trauma she endures from the relationship, she ends up in a particularly fragile mental state.

During which she takes on a pot of flowers- given to her, as a gift, by the man- as her best friend, and confidant.

Only for it to become a monstrous beast, that torments her both in waking life, and her nightmares.

She uses the flowers as a stand in for the partner she wants him to be.

But it's quite clear, they have taken on the toxic form of his actual personality.

At least in the back of her mind.

Though, the lines between the real and psychological are blurred by a series of synchronicities she experiences through her niece.

Forcing her into a state of cognitive dissonance...that causes her to question reality.

And puts her at risk of losing her job.

The whole scenario acts as a metaphor for rejection.

Particularly how such an experience can affect empathetic individuals, like Hera, here.

Encouraging them to retain a connection to toxic aspects of their life, despite the fact that they are destroying them, from the inside out.

Making the monster she sees, a projection of her own mental state.

As she spirals toward delusion, as a result of the trauma she has endured.

An experience that is exacerbated, amidst the pressure of trying to make it, in a fast paced environment, where the men around her are continuously trying to exploit her (in order to satiate their own lustful desires).

All of which gives the film an air of dark humour...despite the rather serious subject matter it seeks to confront.

In regards to how being rejected by someone, only acts to make us, as humans, seek their approval, even more.

Often times, to the detriment of the more healthy relationships in our lives.

Of course, Hera is not the monster here (as if that even needs to be said).

The only monsters are those who use their positions of power over her to exploit her innocence.

Leaving a broken girl, in their wake...where a proud young woman, full of potential, once stood.

Making this a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, and hanging on to toxic relationships.

With a welcome ending, to a clearly tragic tale.

To cap off, what is a great little indie film.

In which a symbol of torment, is subverted into a symbol of empowerment.

A solid freshman feature from writer/director D. W. Medoff.

With a great performance by Ava Rose Kinard.

Talk about synchronicity...

6.5 out of 10.

I have a very big problem with this film. Its author mocks adult women with its portrayal of a vulnerable, unsecure and abused female character and I am a male myself. There's rape on the door steps already before entering the bedroom, which the main character sublimates into love. There's toxic and highly competitive corporate white-collar work climate that the female character, portrayed like a Kimmy Schmidt minus the charisma and the smile, must navigate but she constantly mistakes the working place for a mating habitat or a romantic medium, confounds males for trees, plants for men, evening dresses for work attire, even her own 'no' for 'yes'. Thre are constant breadcrumbs left for viewers to see who's who and what leads where, like for instance the used condom on the floor, the confession that the condom was both used and not used, from a man who assesses risk for a living. Since, judging by the place she works, the viewer must think of her as highly educated and long past puberty, the only explanation I came with, for the course of events and the 'story', others may not be necessarily be in agreement with, is that the film is either a mockery dressed up as a horror, a horror dressed up as a mockery or there's a mind behind it, itself troubled, who mistakes itself as creative. A poet armed with the wrong tools, a gardener with pots of weed instead of flowers. The horror atribute of this film refers to its perceived toxicity in viewers like myself. One of those films you watch because you're not smart and don't know better (I admit it) and neither did the filmmaker expect it. From me, even 1 star is undeserved.

Because of the ridiculous minimum character count I'll be repeating myself several times. This is NOT a horror movie. I have no idea what movie the other reviewer saw, but it couldn't be this one. The characters, all are not relatable, not sympathetic and the actors portraying them just can't. Nothing redeeming about this movie. Nothing enjoyable. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one.

Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, not a horror, NOT a horror, NOT a horror, Not a horror, NOT a Horror, Not a horror, don't be duped this is NOT a horror. No.

Despite looking like a rather promising creature feature horror movie, Pollen ends up being a metaphore for the sexual abuse and metal trauma faced by women.

While being about a very real and serious subject matter , pollen is just the usual rehashed "men bad" message reheated and served in yet another format.

Quality of dialogue and atmosphere varies significantly during the movie, going from pretty decent to rather amateurish levels.

A bit sad over all, lead actress is quite good and her talentes seem a bit wasted on Pollen's meandering plot.

I personally would not reccomend this to any of my friends.

This is an interesting little movie. It's an art film surrounded around sexual trauma and mental health, using the plant as a metaphor. That's at least what my interpretation is.

The lead actress is talented and portrays a young, confused and harmed woman with an ease that's hard to do honestly. Without her, the film wouldn't work as well. The office scenes are also pretty good, definitely laughed at a few of them for sure.

The plot is metaphoric and hard to really get a grip on, but it works in the end. Overall, a creative indie that I enjoyed. I miss working out of an office sometimes, so a little nostalgic for me. The other actors also did well. 6.2/10. Nice work!