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Adze the African Vampire is a found footage horror film that excels best when it takes advantage of the sights, sounds and locations within (the film takes place in rural Georgia). The environment itself becomes a main character in the story. Reminiscent of Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity the film follows a group of myth busters into the woods and eventually everything goes sideways. There is a charm to be found as we watch the vapid bunch begin to circle the drain. This subtext helps to make this more than just a midnight horror movie. It reads as a cautionary tale as well. Excellent cinematography (especially in the cave scenes) and good comedy throughout.

Experimental film has always (unfairly) existed on the very edges of filmmaking. To jump down the rabbit hole and grasp at what may or may not be has been a noble but (potentially) unrewarding process taken on by the likes of David Lynch, Kenneth Anger and Maya Deren. In Barbatachthian, the exploration and pursuit of form and reality are pushed to the ethereal limits. Can something be shoved so far to the end of the spectrum that it wraps back around and ends up on the other side? Writer/ Director Ian Austin takes on this existential pursuit and begs this question and many others. Who are we? And what are we looking for? In the end, his reach may exceed his grasp but isn't that the entire point to begin with?

This is a thriller in the vein of Stephen King about an author who starts to lose his grasp on reality. The thin line between fact and fiction starts to blur and as viewers we're left to sort out the writer's process from the ever-increasing body count. How far does one go for the sake of art? Or is the art becoming reality? Moreover, By Deception explores the confidence of a writer. When things are going well and the ideas flow, life is beautiful. But when the words don't come, the struggle is real and things can turn into a waking nightmare. The cinematography by Adio Ash is impeccable with a stand out performance by Katie Loftus.