This is a film that I got the chance to see thanks to Mitch from Millennial Public Relations. The screener was sent to me so I figured I'd watch it. Reading the blurb, I didn't think this was going to be horror. Internet Movie Database and Letterboxd confirmed this. It was listed as a thriller and it was dark. That caught my interest so I wanted to watch and do a review for Journey with a Cinephile.
Synopsis: struggling schoolteacher Madison (April Hale) strikes a lucrative book deal to help solve her financial troubles. As she dives into her dark past surrounding the 'College Town Slayings', she realizes it may still be a part of her present after all.
We start this at the breakfast table. Brooke (Alijah Tucker) are saying a drawn-out prayer before breakfast. Also, there is her older sister, Madison (Miguela Gary), her mother Gina (Rekeitha Morris) and their stepfather. He waits until Gina goes to work and scolds Brooke for taking too long. He then demands that Madison get him a new bowl of grits. His are cold. Madison seems to have had enough.
It then shifts to the present. Madison is a teacher. It is Friday and she is greeted in her room by Greg (Xamon Glasper). They have plans, but Madison is adamant about staying friends. They talk and it is here Greg learns of her past in college. There was a string of murders. He thinks her telling her story could make for an interesting book. He introduces her to Mr. Laurent (Darius Wallace) who offers a large advance. Madison is leery, but willing to tell her story while Greg ghostwrites. It is under the assumption this will be a fictional take. There are ulterior motives here and the results will not only reveal truths but could be dangerous.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to our leads. Included here is giving more of Madison and Brooke's upbringing before their father passed away. He's played by Henry E. Reaves III. What is tragic there is that he was murdered and it was politically motivated. This has made Madison bitter and ready to defend herself. Her time in college when these murders take place also hardens her. She says that she was awkward in high school and worked hard to get a full scholarship. It is her time there that she wants to find a boyfriend. She is taken advantage of a couple guys and then she dates an aggressive, jealous guy, who seemed nice in the beginning. It is from there that the murders start. I like how Madison is forcing herself to recount these events to Greg under the guise of a fictional story.
Now we know early on that Greg has another motive as well. I did guess the reveal, but I like the fact that it is muddied by Mr. Laurent. I thought that worked, especially because the two are pushing Madison to give more of the story than she might be ready to. Brooke is also now in college. Madison is struggling financially to keep their house, especially with how important it was to their father. Brooke is ready to take time off from school to work. Madison doesn't want that and will do what she can to survive. That drive is inspiring. The actions are nefarious is all I'll say.
I do have to warn viewers, there is a heavy message underneath the story. The first one is shown through the father. He thought owning their house was an important step to being 'wealthy' in the area they live. I can't fault him. It is a sign for me that I've 'made it' in a way. He wants to help others get to this level. This makes him a target. The other is Madison is a variation of a feminist. I don't fault her at all. She knows her worth. I don't think either of these are that in your face, but I can see viewers intreprating it that way.
I'll then say that the acting was good. Hale is solid as our lead. I like that she's a modern woman who wants to make it on her own. She is hit on by men around her and she rebuffs their efforts. It is a positive role model there. There are things that get revealed that tarnish it, but I also like the character growth. Glasper is good as the male lead here. I like the reveal with him as well. I'd also say that the men she dates in college are good as variations of people you might meet. They're good people that make bad choices. Wallace works in his role, as does Kenon Walker as Officer Packer. I also like the message that Reaves gives here. The acting is solid across the board, no issues for me.
All that is left then is filmmaking. I thought that the cinematography was good. The framing is as well. What is interesting is that this is a murder mystery of sorts. We don't see the killings until the end, but that's not the focus. It is more about how these slayings affect characters. There is a slight pacing issue, because the story being told is a flashback. We then will go even deeper for another flashback. There doesn't seem to be a different way to do it, but it did make me pause. Other than that, the soundtrack fit what was needed.
Not a movie that I'd recommend to everyone. If you like dark mystery thrillers with a good message underneath, I'd recommend giving this a viewing.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
