Atrabilious

Atrabilious, William Atticus Parker's sophomore feature film, follows Steven, who lost his son, as he tries to discover the truth about this traumatic event. He is soon embedded in a thrilling adventure, leading him to an unordinary path.

Atrabilious is a suspenseful dark comedy mystery, that gives the viewer strong Under the Silver Lake vibes. The movie got many unexpected twists and is very well written. Dialogues are very good, just like the performances from the cast, starting with Leon Addison Brown, who delivers a stunning portrayal of Steven.

Parker's directing is very promising for his future career as an acclaimed filmmaker. The use of lighting is incredible, and gives a psychedelic atmosphere to the movie, which adds to the feeling of mystery. Parker's sophomore movie is a success, and we can't wait to see what he's got next for us.

Will Parker's latest addition to his, what appears to be a high potential career, meets expectations as he uses new visual and literature techniques. His ability to use color in this movie was the key stand out as it presented moods that both character and audience will feel. In addition, the cinematography had also created this uncertainty, something which couldn't be done by the B+W in Forty Winks. The movie also had a fantastic antagonist as evident from the fact that a Guillepse in our life wouldn't be useful. I hope the movie receives the recognition and praise that it deserves. I for one am looking forward to the next line of work.

Atrabilious is the sophomore feature film from director William Atticus Parker.

Like Forty Winks, Atrabilious features a very strong lead performance. This time coming from Leon Addison Brown, who was great throughout the whole film.

As was Mark Boone Junior, who really comes through in the second half of the film with a very strong performance. I've been a fan of his since his work on Last Man on Earth and he really impressed here.

It's become clear that one of Parker's strengths as a creator is his eye for the camera and for great cinematography and great visuals. Atrabilious has some stellar shots throughout the film that will surprise you.

Parker is also a very unique writer as he introduces and talks through topics in a very intriguing way. Each film he's made so far talks through some tough topics and he does it very well and very delicately.

A killer cocktail of mystery, grief and revenge where things aren't quite as they seem "ATRABILIOUS" is the sophomore offering from young director Will Parker.

This a micro budget movie with a difference.

Apart from the apparent natural talent the director has for the craft, Will has assembled a truly spectacular cast for his second micro budget movie that includes Leon Addison Brown, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeffrey Wright among other familiar faces. Browns performance in particular, layered with emotion and vulnerability is one of biggest strengths of the movie.

The story itself is a mysterious and at times ambiguous tale that unravels with intriguing consequence throughout the movies duration. It's an intelligently written thriller at times sprinkled with some dark comedy and the premise of the movie is undoubtedly unique. Pacing and minor audio and visual issues (that naturally come with micro budget features) aside the film really shows us above all else that in time and with a bigger budget we really might have an exciting directorial prospect on our hands with Parker.

Atrabilious is a word to describe being melancholy or irritable, Leon Addison Brown stars as a heartbroken father (Steven) who longs to find the truth behind his sons sudden passing. We follow as Steven finds himself spiralling out of control, hoping to uncover the secrets of an unconventional healing method, cocktail bereavement co-ordination, taught by a so-called psychiatrist.

The first 25 minutes slowly build up to the shift in narrative, once Steven steps foot inside the Atrabilious bar the trajectory of the film changes and the characters go on a non-sensical journey of discovery, confusion and acceptance, never fully knowing the truth. With plenty of intriguing plot points and strong character choices, Atrabilious (2023) transforms into a suspenseful thriller with stylised cinematic choices and some great uses of colourful visuals.

Parker shot Atrabilious with an impressive list of A-list actors in New York City on a micro-budget similar to his first feature, Forty Winks (2022). Considering the low budget, Atrabilious (2023) has a unique storyline with some brilliant performances throughout. It can often feel like a dream, an ambitious narrative that introduces us to a collection of unconventional characters. After an hour we finally see a glimpse into the reality of the Atrabilious bar, the film takes a leap into murder and distraction, finally giving us the thrill and suspense promised with poor Steven at the centre of it all.

Overall, Atrabilious (2023) has a unique narrative which evolves from a subdued drama into a non-sensical thriller. I recommend this feature for any fans of a slow thriller, a gradual expression of grief and loss through some compelling storytelling. If you are a film fanatic or a filmmaker it would be very beneficial to check this film out, see how much you can achieve with a smaller budget.

A special thank you to the writer, producer and director of Atrabilious (2023) William Atticus Parker (Forty Winks) for sharing his new feature with me before its official release to the public. I look forward to see what he does next.