Paralysis

This indie horror film is impressively refreshing in that it deals with grief in both a straightforward manner and involves truly caring people. The storyline is one that far too many of us can relate to. Similar in tone to Babadook, but with more engaging pacing and characters who are more relatable. Several creepy images with solid writing that doesn't need to rely on jump scares. Ethereal, dreamlike sequences blend well throughout the film, leading to a satisfying ending. At times, this didn't even seem like a film--Very natural acting. Interesting, earnest characters who you will find yourself thinking about after the film is done.

Not a genre I typically watch, nor typical for the genre. Emotionally wrenching and lots of twists and turns with a satisfying ending. It is incredible that this film was created and shot using a mobile phone on a shoestring budget. The entire film had a sense of dreaminess and semi consciousness, as though you are drowning and your synapses are randomly firing, blending reality and memory and fear and guilt until you are unable to discern which way is up, your lungs burning as you flail for the surface and air. That the scenes are confined to a handful of rooms and locations drives home the isolation of the main character and her being tethered to her grief, unable to move, paralyzed.

(2022) Paralysis PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

Edited, co- cinematography, co-associate produced, written and directed by Levi Austin Morris that has Haley Stone (Allison Lobel) interacting with her brother, Nicky Stone (Levi Austin Morris) who happens to be be a painter/ artist. At the same time she is seeing and dreaming about things that are not there, such as a demonic presence sometimes with her brother, Nicky present sometimes not. And although, she takes medication we find out she suffers from sleep paralysis/ nightmares. It is during then she seeks help from a paranormal investigator, Anissa Bradley (Lisagaye Tomlinson) who may or may not be the solution to all of Haley's nightmares.

Self-explainable psychological horror movie that is slow and boring in parts but may have been better if it had a bigger budget.

I'm currently working my way through this one and it's rough, to say the least. Definitely a low budget flick. The acting is the worst part about this so far, making it extremely hard to immerse myself into the atmosphere and genre. The acting feels like what you'd get from a cheap highschool film project, most notably, the wide angel single camera found footage movies that flood streaming platforms such as Tubi and Freevee, to name a couple. They're not all bad, but the acting is generally the worst part in them. I get it, amateurs gaining experience and whatnot... Anyways, I'm going to finish it and then come back to this review and hope that between then and now, I've got something positive to say about it.

This film is a great psychological thriller to watch in the dark. Good luck trying to sleep after, though. The writer and cast gives it their all and you can tell there is heart and soul in this movie. I would have thought the budget was easily 10x what it was. The make up and effects are top tier.

The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. What you originally think is "just a demon" evolves into talking about deep-rooted trauma that has been packed away.

The set and lighting are perfect to make this extra spooky to your core!

I hope this director continues to make many more films so I can watch them all!