horancoffey

When I saw this trailer, there was no doubt that I had to see it. Going into it, I was hoping that it wouldn't harp on black trauma as some black horror movies do.

The cinematography in this was breathtaking with unique lens that give a 70's grain to it. It produces almost a nostalgic feeling to the first act of the movie. So, when the horror really sets, it snaps you out of the haze. The crafting of the narrative and characters is intrinsic to the subject matter of the story. You notice small easter eggs that pay homage to those in the Black community that made headlines for their unjust deaths.

It's a powerful story about a girl who tries to play God in a community that has essentially lost all faith in livelihood. Some audience members may struggle to understand the tone of the story because of the way the subject matter is handled in the story. However, it's a creative reimagining of Frankenstein and horror fans deserve more stories like this!

Without reading the book that it was adapted from, I can tell this was probably better to read than watch. I say this, mainly, because the gothic atmosphere was just enough. But I wanted more. I wanted to feel the dread that the setting and narrative eludes to. That feeling would come and go. Perhaps that had to do with the pacing, which matched the icy, winter setting. Though slow, it gave me the time to take in visual aspects of this film. I believe that's one of the strengths that it has. Harry Melling's abnormally sunken features played a role in the uneasiness I felt as viewer. I really wanted more of Poe's works, especially from the Tell-Tale Heart, to play a role alongside Bale and Melling. I was excited to hear that heart beating under the floorboard. But it never came.

A few words I'd use to describe this movie: beautifully fluorescent and complicated. The cinematography easily submersed you in this winter wonderland of neon lights and blue hues. Even regular lighting of store fronts or town roads resembled Christmas light bulbs. And the open credit scene set an eerie after-hour tone with faux commercials you'd only see past your bedtime. However, dialogue and amount of disbelief i had to suspend is what killed it for me. You can usually tell when a man writes the female protagonist, and this was no different. With her exaggerated dude-bro persona and favoritism for the f-word, I really enjoyed any scene where the two leads were not talking. And if I had to sit through their dialogue, I was intrigued by the amount of chemistry every character had with one another.