Black Mold

This isn't a new concept for a film. People go into decrepit places and unusual events happen. Instead of the supernatural occurring, this film follows the idea of "What is real and what is imagined?" I liken it to Session 9 as we aren't certain what is happening even though we are seeing what the characters see.

The set up has a mildly amateurish quality foreshadowing the idea of fear. But both of the main actors do well with less than stellar script dialogue in the beginning. Once the movie moves into the second section, the plot begins to expand into what is the meat of the story, and now acting and mood improve.

I was drawn to this film waiting for the reveal and loved that ambiguity remained a central point but with enough clarity that I wasn't frustrated. I was questioning in the film, uncertain of what was imagined or what was real, and I never felt completely lost. Decent low budget yet quality film.

Clearly, they didn't have much money although the effects are pretty good. I just got a little annoyed with the characters just staying in the awful place with the mold and with the dangerous guy when they could easily walk somewhere else or at least breathe fresh air outside. Maybe if they couldn't exit the building so easily or if they established that people exposed to black mold don't have the common sense to get away from it then I could accept their actions more easily. I was hoping there would be transforming or some kind of unique monster but it's more just a drama with some tension. I was pretty engaged though.

Well shot/nice cinematography and some good art direction.

The characters make a lot of absurd choices. The lead female makes incredibly frustrating choices that don't feel true to the character and the lead male character is pretty unlikable throughout. I don't think it's the actors so much as the writing that let us down here.

Lots of moments where it was hard to believe the circumstances they were in, but a decent ride with lackluster end.

Good atmosphere. Nice visuals. It's a well made slow-burn horror movie, the script definitely needed work though. But the cinematography was pretty solid and I definitely look forward to seeing more from the director as there is some potential there.

Sitting here, unable to sleep, feeling miserable with a head cold, I stumbled across this made by Tubi movie. So let me say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If I had more energy to write a proper review I could try to do it justice, but if nothing else I'll put my vote out there.

Starts off, first third feels like an art film. Camera work is good. Main actress good. Those YouTube videos of old buildings, abandoned places... take that creepy backdrop and then apply some original ideas for a story, and you start to get a feel for this well done movie.

Just a small cast but everyone held there own. The story keeps you pulled in tight, and there are things to keep considering... why, what, who, how. Good stuff.

Near the end...The initial credit scene, before the text centric credits, brought back that eerie vibe you got at the start. It is truly unrelated, but it somehow reminded me of The Walking Dead's opener. Maybe I was imagining it, but I really dug it regardless.

Black Mold is a simple, yet effective, psychological horror.

It's not flashy.

Or laden with state of the art special effects.

But it's a solid little story; and has some pretty decent production quality!

In it, two up-and-coming photographers, head to a dilapidated location, with a storied history.

Only to find that it's inhabited by a homeless squatter...who warns them about what the darkness brings...if they find themselves stuck there, overnight.

Because- as you might have guessed from the film's title- the place is (apparently) filled with a type of black mold that causes their most deep seeded fears to become reality, in the form of hallucinations.

With that being said...it's a bit of a slow burner.

That is, for the most part, dramatically driven.

But it does manage to exude a, slight, air of tension.

And manages to keep you engaged enough, as you wait to see how it's all going to play out in the end.

As a result of it's relatively slow pace...you find yourself beginning to expect there to be an explosive twist at the end.

Though- while this, arguably, does play out- it ends on a weird note, that you can't help but feel is anti-climactic.

Even weirder, though, is the fact that- if it weren't for the title- you wouldn't have known the whole thing was driven by black mold at all.

You are completely left to deduce that based on the film's title alone.

Which isn't necessarily a fault.

But it doesn't really suggest mature writing skills, either.

That being said...it's entertaining enough.

But it could have been substantially better, if they just sussed out the narrative a little more thoroughly.

Particularly in regards to the ending.

But it is what it is.

3.5 out of 10.