I knew to expect horror; I did not expect such wit and humour as well! The unexpected one-liners and situational comedy were such a delight amidst all the creepiness. This was just an excellent black comedy, and every piece came together to fuel its success: from the near cinematography to the haunting score.
The script is particularly fresh and irreverent. It takes a common genre of horror and violence against women but avoids the misogynistic pitfalls and cliches that plague similar works. It somehow keeps you engaged, surprised, contemplative, and freshly horrified throughout-like when one seemingly disturbing act turns out to "just" be homicide, the clearly psychopathic mummy issues underlying the character's misogyny, the worst popcorn ever, and of course the unexpected ending that shows the different depths of depravity within all of us. The context of an acting casting call both creates a heightened reality of over the top theatrics while being brutally honest about the very real nightmares within the industry. Overall, the script is witty, provocative, cogent, and all too relevant.
Of course, it comes to life with stellar acting, most notably from the lead Rob Laird as Arthur Capstone. The script demands a lot of him, and he meets the challenge heroically: treading the tightrope between deadpan and camp with Olympic precision to create a character who feels uncomfortably real, like a living nightmare. I particularly loved scenes with him and Jack Forsyth-Noble as Domenic; they fed off each other's energy so beautifully and hilariously that you almost lost sight as to who was the true antagonist.
Overall, it's a must-watch for wide ranges of audiences: anyone who loves horror, comedy, black comedy, social commentary, and honestly just well-done art.
