Pesadilla

Tbh, most micro budget films are something along the lines of crime or chasing someone around with a knife. I couldn't help but get the same feeling as something like Primer, or Following. I mean this film makes a convincing (yet terrifying) point in regards to the Andy Griffith show which is something you don't see often on this scale, the "outrageous metaphors". Shocking moments, tough subject matter, a final 5 minutes that are admittedly more iconic than the actual film and iconic in itself. The grandpa character was extremely well written, and the performance was superb. I liked this film, it was different.

My favorite work from Anglin, and it features my favorite characters he has written. The acting, the sound design, the cinematography, the score, the editing, and most of all the writing all shine in this production, and I enjoyed every second of it. The film builds towards an exciting climax that feels not only satisfying but as dark and messed up as the story suggests. That being said, the film blends horror with comedy so well, and I truly think this is the best writing I have seen from Anglin. His characters feel so fleshed out, and Gramps specifically feels like such a fully realized character. His monologue on the porch had me leaning back in horror and leaning in to hear more.

Additionally, I mentioned the editing earlier, and I just want to say again that I was never bored. The story is paced so well, and both sets of characters (the grieving family and the moonlight marauders) were so interesting that the story did not feel stilted when the story switched back and forth from one group to the other. Also, the editing at the climax of the film is excellent. And yeah, I mentioned it earlier too, but man did I enjoy the musical score. It felt both fitting and it carried suspense from scene to scene. Music should always complement a scene, and Álvaro Rodríguez Cabezas does just that.

In short, "Pesadilla" signals a bright future for Anglin, and it simultaneously inspires other filmmakers in Kentucky like me. Solid 8/10 for me, and I 10/10 recommend it. Shout out Mike Davis and Alexis Ward!

There's something so engaging and dangerous about a film that manages to come off this rabid while consistently keeping control and maintaining a legitimate creative voice toward a bigger end. I think an unfamiliar, unwilling eye might minimize what makes this great down into something comparable to intentional subversion because it's easier to say that than attempt to draw a challenged throughline for your own takeaways to stand on, but in my opinion, sifting through the thematic grief collage this film layers upon itself as it unspools, what's actually flowing through Pesadilla is so much more endearing than that. There's an emotional undercurrent carrying a lot of face-value cynicism in a way that basically forces its juxtaposition upon contact; think like a less clinical, more fleshy take on what Michael Haneke does. There's nothing one-dimensional here even if it tastes that way at first and Dylan Anglin obviously understands that there's no easy answers within this kind of subject material. It's not really a horror movie, it's a sweaty, manic, levitating broken thermometer pouring out its mercury and I love it for that. This is some DIY chaos magic renaissance'd from that late 90's miracle zone of indie filmmaking where risks got taken that are definitely not safe and the film CONSTANTLY benefits from it. The soundtrack, acting and adventurousness of the shot composition pretty substantially transcends the budget at all times and I would love to see what this man could do with a million bucks.

I'm going to say right off the bat-would I watch this film again? Maybe, but not for a while. That said, I was not expecting it to go where it did. I'm leaving this review because right now, future filmmakers are on platforms like Tubi and Amazon, and there will always be trolls who leave low ratings just to be trolls. But I understand what this film was going for, and I can see how it could be exactly what someone is looking for-especially if they go in with no expectations.

To be honest, I probably would've landed right in the middle on this film if it weren't for the last 15 minutes. That final stretch burned away any preconceived ideas I had, making the rest of the film that much more enjoyable in hindsight. My biggest fear while watching was that it would lead to some kind of shootout between the grandpa and the intruders-but it wasn't. IT WASN'T. And I was relieved.

Quite frankly, I don't see how anyone could give this film lower than a five. Sure, not everything will resonate with everyone, but at an hour and 52 minutes, it feels shorter than its runtime and introduces some of the most unique themes I've ever seen in a film this small in scale. It features sinister dialogue-including a bizarre yet compelling reference to The Andy Griffith Show-a whole therapy technique developed specifically for one character that drives the narrative, family subject matter most films wouldn't dare to touch, horrifying imagery, and dialogue that, while sometimes odd, honestly made me chuckle.

This film is by no means perfect, and again, I don't know when I'd rewatch it, but it's undeniably a singular vision. Films like this don't deserve a one-star rating just because someone's in a bad mood. There's definitely room for improvement, but I applaud the filmmakers for actually trying to create something unique in today's climate. It probably could have been executed a bit better, but if I were the director, I'd make sure to go all in from now on-bringing in people with the same passion and expertise to elevate the craft.

Also, the soundtrack? It kind of rocks. At times, it sounds like something out of old Hollywood rather than the same synthetic cues we hear in most films of this scale.

I didn't love this film, but I also didn't hate it. More than anything, I respect it.

It has been a while since I've professionally reviewed anything, but I'd like to give it another go, especially with films that might have flown under the radar. This day and age, I find myself watching a lot of indie films, A lot of the times on Tubi, and this time on Amazon and figured I'd give it a watch (The two cows on the poster sold it). When I first watched Pesadilla, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Sure, it had some issues.. the soundtrack mixing was a little off, though, to be fair, I have that complaint with a lot of Hollywood films as well. I can't imagine the director thought that everybody would go for this film, so I initially wrote it off as something that just wasn't for me. But then I sat on it. I went to bed, and my mind kept going back to the last five minutes. And I have to give credit where it's due when this film commits to an idea, it really goes for it. That's both its biggest flaw and its most encouraging trait. It's too ambitious for what it's trying to be, but honestly, that's exactly why I ended up liking it.

Most micro-budget short films tend to go the slasher route or suffer from poorly written dialogue, but Pesadilla defies those expectations. The dialogue outside, in particular the conversation with Gramps, played by Mike Davis (who was phenomenal, by the way) felt chilling and haunting in a way I've rarely seen in micro-budget films. There was one moment where a creature's hand jumped into frame, and I initially thought it was the cheesiest part of the whole thing. But then I realized, it worked. It made me jump, and that's when it clicked for me: this film is the work of someone who truly loves the medium. Someone who wants to create something great but is restricted by budget and resources. And in this day and age, that's a challenge filmmakers have to push through. And let's talk about the creature, I did not find it scary but if you look at it as a metaphorical presence, it works a lot better then it just being something in a house stalking people.

I'd be fibbing if I said I wasn't interested in revisiting Pesadilla. Maybe I'll like it less on a rewatch, or maybe I'll appreciate it even more. Some of the key takeaways, some performances were definitely stronger than others, it's not a make or break, but I really think casting is a huge deal, especially when you're working bare bones and there's nothing you can do. I'm torn on the overall direction because one part of me wants to say "Hey tone it back" And another part wants me to say "what's going on in this singular mind?". But one thing's for sure nearly two hours long, and there's something happening in every scene. Yes people will view this as an amateurish film, but it's one of the better and ballsy "amateurish films"I've seen.