Appendage

Hannah (Hadley Robinson) is a young fashion designer struggling at work. She has a pain in her side and something is growing out of it. A creature out of her doubts emerges. She seeks help from a self-help group where she is befriended by Claudia (Emily Hampshire).

This is more allegory than horror. It needs help to be more scary. Mostly, the creature is too campy or too cheap. It takes any realism out of the movie. It should be devastating body horror. Instead, I'm looking at it side eyed. To be fair, it's not trying to be camp. It has no humor to speak of. It would be better as a slug coming out of her body.

I happened to stumble upon this 2023 horror movie titled "Appendage" by random chance. I had not heard about the movie, but it being a horror movie was sufficient to make me want to watch it. And I have to admit that the movie's cover and poster was actually interesting enough to catch my attention.

Writer and director Anna Zlokovic put together a script and storyline that proved to be rather unique and also entertaining. It is definitely a storyline unline anything I've seen before, so thumbs up for originality here. And I will say that the storyline was adequately strange and bizarre to prove to be all the more enjoyable.

The acting performances in "Appendage" were good. I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble, but the actresses and actors did put on good performances and carried the movie quite nicely.

Visually then "Appendage" was okay. The special effects in the movie were adequate, but not really top notch effects. There certainly were room for improvement. However, the special effects worked as intended and that was good enough.

While "Appendage" proved to be watchable, enjoyable and entertaining, then I have to say that it is not a movie that warrants more than just a single viewing. But if you enjoy horror movies, then writer and director Anna Zlokovic's 2023 movie "Appendage" is certainly well-worth sitting down to watch.

My rating of "Appendage" lands on a six out of ten stars.

I feel very happy for all the people giving this movie bad ratings, because they obviously never struggled with any mental health problems. If you have, this movie is very relateable and most of all funny. This is first and foremost a comedy, not a horror movie. A comedy about trauma, about mental health issues, about dealing with that constant voice in your head telling you you are a human piece of doodoo. It's not for everyone because it's pretty campy. I thought it was hilarious. Many have said that the movies conclusion is stupid but it is not. It is a very good metaphore for how to deal with your inner demons. So if you did not get that, good on you. Here's hoping you never will.

This movie truly made me ugly cry. I have Borderline Personality Disorder, in other words I have this disgusting, ferocious "appendage" that feeds me lies and drains me of all my energy. But here is the catch, it's all happening inside my head!

This film is a true representation of the depression, paranoia, and anxiety that accompanies the disorder. I often feel like I grow weaker as my illness grows stronger and forever tied to it.

Unresolved childhood trauma, especially with the relationship with her mother had me sobbing. I want to ask her to watch it, maybe she'll get to understand me. Wishful thinking.

Of course while watching this, I kept thinking about Basket Case and wondered if the director took some inspiration from it, or it just happened for the same idea to resurface after so many years.

And just like in the case of Basket Case, I couldn't look away. Now the difference between these two is that the first relies on some gore and for those times, utter violence, while Appendance is trying to be smarter and even introduces a twist to this genre.

If you want to judge Appendace all on its own, I think it's less fun, so definitely make time for Basket Case as well. 3 parts as I remember, but at least watch the first.

For a solo Appendance appreciation, I do believe it is a solid effort, it is shocking without being gross or violent and it does keep you curious throughout its run time. So I definitely believe this should be seen by horror fans, as it comes out rather fresh, intriguing and even offers a free moral lesson.

Watch it and you'll find out.

Cheers!