Pesadilla

Pesadilla" is a haunting and atmospheric psychological thriller that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche and mental health struggles. Directed by Dylan Anglin, this film grips viewers from the opening scene and refuses to let go until the credits roll. Anglin's direction is masterful, creating a palpable sense of tension and unease that permeates every frame. The cinematography is striking, with stark contrasts and clever use of light and shadow adding to the film's eerie atmosphere. The standout performance comes from veteran actor Mike Davis, whose portrayal of Gramps is both masterful and disturbing. Overall Pesadilla is a compelling story with chilling visuals including standout practical effects by Hunter Groves. Anglin proves himself to be a talent to watch in the world of indie horror, and Pesadilla is a promising film that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, and with an uneasy feeling on the drive home.

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.

After watching a bunch of Anglin's short films I was very excited to check out his feature film and I wasn't disappointed.

You will not be able to figure out where this film is heading no matter how hard you try. It takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns without compromising the narrative. Some great acting performances and had multiple jaw-dropping moments that left me stunned.

For anyone who loves independent film and seeing a unique vision brought to screen by someone who truly cares, this is for you.

In today's world, you don't see many films that take these kinds of risks and explore such unique ideas & themes. Truly a one-of-a-kind film that I think everybody should watch!

There really isn't another film like PESADILLA. Bizarre and unpredictable, and the characters are outlandish and fun. Dylan Anglin's made some other short films and they all have twists and turns and are funky. Kapadia's character is particularly weird and off-kilter. What's amazing is how a film like this can be brought o life on such a minimal budget. This would've been very difficult even 20 years ago. It's nice the film is available on several platforms, as more films like this should be given attention. So, if you're ready to step away from the usual Hollywood pap and slow-burn blah blah, jump in. Highly recommended!

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.