Pollen

This is an interesting little movie. It's an art film surrounded around sexual trauma and mental health, using the plant as a metaphor. That's at least what my interpretation is.

The lead actress is talented and portrays a young, confused and harmed woman with an ease that's hard to do honestly. Without her, the film wouldn't work as well. The office scenes are also pretty good, definitely laughed at a few of them for sure.

The plot is metaphoric and hard to really get a grip on, but it works in the end. Overall, a creative indie that I enjoyed. I miss working out of an office sometimes, so a little nostalgic for me. The other actors also did well. 6.2/10. Nice work!

An innocent young woman, who has recently landed her dream job, gets roped into a toxic sexual relationship with a senior coworker.

As a result of the trauma she endures from the relationship, she ends up in a particularly fragile mental state.

During which she takes on a pot of flowers- given to her, as a gift, by the man- as her best friend, and confidant.

Only for it to become a monstrous beast, that torments her both in waking life, and her nightmares.

She uses the flowers as a stand in for the partner she wants him to be.

But it's quite clear, they have taken on the toxic form of his actual personality.

At least in the back of her mind.

Though, the lines between the real and psychological are blurred by a series of synchronicities she experiences through her niece.

Forcing her into a state of cognitive dissonance...that causes her to question reality.

And puts her at risk of losing her job.

The whole scenario acts as a metaphor for rejection.

Particularly how such an experience can affect empathetic individuals, like Hera, here.

Encouraging them to retain a connection to toxic aspects of their life, despite the fact that they are destroying them, from the inside out.

Making the monster she sees, a projection of her own mental state.

As she spirals toward delusion, as a result of the trauma she has endured.

An experience that is exacerbated, amidst the pressure of trying to make it, in a fast paced environment, where the men around her are continuously trying to exploit her (in order to satiate their own lustful desires).

All of which gives the film an air of dark humour...despite the rather serious subject matter it seeks to confront.

In regards to how being rejected by someone, only acts to make us, as humans, seek their approval, even more.

Often times, to the detriment of the more healthy relationships in our lives.

Of course, Hera is not the monster here (as if that even needs to be said).

The only monsters are those who use their positions of power over her to exploit her innocence.

Leaving a broken girl, in their wake...where a proud young woman, full of potential, once stood.

Making this a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, and hanging on to toxic relationships.

With a welcome ending, to a clearly tragic tale.

To cap off, what is a great little indie film.

In which a symbol of torment, is subverted into a symbol of empowerment.

A solid freshman feature from writer/director D. W. Medoff.

With a great performance by Ava Rose Kinard.

Talk about synchronicity...

6.5 out of 10.

The synopsis for the 2023 horror movie "Pollen" certainly was something else. When I stumbled upon this 2023 horror movie from writer and director DW Medoff, of course I opted to watch it on account of it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen. And I am a big fan of all things horror after all.

But since I had never heard about the movie, I didn't know what I was in for, nor did I have any expectations. All I knew about "Pollen" was what I read in the synopsis. So I assume that writer and director DW Medoff had every opportunity to entertain and impress me.

The narrative in the movie was odd. The storyline sort of fell short of adequately entertaining me. Sure, it was a watchable movie, but I had expecting more horror, but was treated to a toxic work environment drama for the majority of the movie. Not exactly what I was expecting.

When I sat down to watch "Pollen", I was under the impression that it was a horror movie. I have to say, though, that it was not a horror movie. It was a psychological drama with very light supernatural elements to it.

I was not familiar with a single actress or actor on the cast list, and that was actually something that spoke well in favor of "Pollen", as I do enjoy watching unfamiliar and new talents on the screen. The acting performances in the movie were actually good.

Hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing. I wouldn't exactly say that "Pollen" is a movie that I would recommend horror fans to rush out and get to watch.

My rating of writer and director DW Medoff's 2023 movie "Pollen" lands on a four out of ten stars.

"Pollen" unfolds as a haunting tale, shrouded in enigma and foreboding, following the journey of Hera, a determined young woman seeking to ascend the treacherous rungs of the corporate ladder. However, Hera's path takes a chilling turn when she becomes a victim of a sinister act, her innocence shattered by the touch of her malevolent boss. As Hera fights to salvage her shattered career, a sense of inexplicable dread begins to seep into every facet of her existence, infiltrating not only her workplace and sanctuary but also the ethereal realm of her dreams. The movie seems to be dripping in symbolism. Would not classify it as horror. The intro song from Liana Flores - Rises the moon has a reference to the daffodil (Yellow Narcissus). This flower symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It's one of the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter, announcing the beginning of spring and signifying the end of the cold, dark days. Less commonly, daffodils may also symbolize creativity, energy, resilience, forgiveness, and vitality. Next, we have pollen, a powdery substance produced by flowers. It contains tiny grains that carry male gametes, or sperm cells. These grains have a protective coating and travel from the male to the female parts of plants. When they land on a compatible female structure, they grow a tube to transfer the sperm cells. If you watch closely enough, you will see that this makes sense. Cannot go into detail here. Spoiler alert! However, the longer you watch the better it gets. As the runtime is only 86 minutes, I believe you have to stick around to the end. This movie will not bore you. It also shows how horrible people can be. It's a warning that shows the serious issues of sexual assault, toxicity in the workplace, and trauma. Pollen amplifies the horrors that take place too often in corporate America and shows audiences these monsters in a very literal sense. The movie also showcases the talent of Ava Rose Kinard, making her remarkable feature film debut as the lead character Hera, brilliantly portraying both the joys of success and the depths of trauma. For those prepared for its intense subject matter, "Pollen" guarantees an unforgettable and impactful viewing experience. A very solid 7/10. And a strong recommendation to go and watch this movie and have patience.

Pollen is a 2023 psychological horror film directed by D. W. Medoff and starring Ava Rose Kinard. The film tells the story of Hera, a young woman who is assaulted by a senior coworker at her dream job. As she tries to keep her career together, she is tormented at work, at home, and in her dreams by a mysterious tree monster.

Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that explores the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma. Kinard gives a powerful performance as Hera, and the film's visuals are striking and atmospheric. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it.

Positives

Strong performances from Ava Rose Kinard and the supporting cast Striking visuals and atmospheric cinematography Thought-provoking exploration of the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma Negatives

The film can be slow-paced at times The ending may be unsatisfying for some viewers Overall, Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is worth watching.

Recommendation

I recommend Pollen to fans of psychological horror films, as well as anyone who is interested in films that explore the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma.

I am a little surprised how low its rated on IMDB. The film really is well made, well casted and well acted. Perhaps the slasher seekers don't understand the point of this film. The work environment depicted in this film is quite common in the professional office space. The only area I think it could have been better was the ending scene where the higher up is killed in the girls apartment. It just didn't fit the rest of the film. I think a better smarter revenge should have been written into the story at the end. But other than that, this feels like a A24 film.