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Del Toro Reanimates a Classic — But Not Without Stitches Showing

15 Saturday Nov 2025

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Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein arrives with the inevitability of myth. Few contemporary filmmakers are as attuned to the poetry of monsters, and fewer still have built an oeuvre so devoted to the wounded, the wondrous, and the lonely. From Pan’s Labyrinth to The Shape of Water, del Toro has repeatedly crafted worlds where the grotesque becomes tender and the inhuman becomes a mirror. In many ways, Frankenstein should have been his ultimate expression. And yet, despite moments of breathtaking beauty, the film feels curiously unmoored from the gothic, romantic, and macabre heart of Mary Shelley’s novel.

Oscar Isaac delivers a volatile, almost venomous Victor Frankenstein — a man whose brilliance curdles into arrogance long before his creation opens its eyes. His performance pushes Victor into deliberately detestable territory, stripping away any lingering ambiguity and recasting him as a man driven less by intellectual yearning and more by a narcissistic hunger to be remembered. It is a bold interpretation, if not entirely a sympathetic one. Mia Goth, by contrast, seems misaligned with the film’s emotional wavelength; her Elizabeth feels spectral not in a tragic, Shelleyan sense, but in a way that leaves her displaced, as though the world around her was calibrated to a frequency she cannot quite inhabit.

Visually, however, Frankenstein is nothing short of sumptuous. Del Toro orchestrates frames that glow with painterly chiaroscuro — all bruise-blue moonlight, cathedral shadows, and the soft, funereal glow of candlelit laboratories. The creature’s awakening is a moment of pure cinema, a fusion of tactile prosthetics and operatic staging that reminds us why del Toro remains one of the most distinct visual fantasists working today. His fascination with the act of creation — as miracle, as violation — pulses through every coil of wire and stitched sinew.

But it is precisely here that the film begins to diverge from Shelley’s vision. Del Toro embellishes the narrative with new mythologies, symbolic digressions, and philosophical asides that, while intriguing, often pull the story away from its emotional core. Shelley’s novel is a haunting meditation on responsibility and alienation, its tragedy rooted in the fragile bond between creator and creation. Del Toro’s additions, though imaginative, diffuse this intimacy. The more the film expands outward — into backstory, lore, and ornate world-building — the further it drifts from the stark, romantic terror that makes Frankenstein endure.

This impulse is not new in del Toro’s cinema. His career is defined by a tension between narrative simplicity and imaginative excess. His greatest works embrace that balance: the aching solitude of The Devil’s Backbone, the fairy-tale fatalism of Pan’s Labyrinth, the delicate monstrosity of The Shape of Water. In Frankenstein, however, the scales tip slightly too far toward embellishment. The result is a film that is still enthralling to behold, but one that sometimes mutates the story so much that its thematic marrow — creation as curse, loneliness as inheritance — becomes diluted.

Still, even when it falters, del Toro’s Frankenstein contains moments of exquisite power: the creature standing beneath a storm-lit sky, grappling with consciousness; Victor, trembling not with triumph but with the first stirrings of dread; the quiet spaces where the monster reaches toward a world that will not reach back. These sequences remind us of what del Toro understands so deeply — that monsters are never the true horrors, but rather reflections of what humanity refuses to confront.

The Prognosis:

Frankenstein may not be the definitive adaptation its pedigree suggests. But as a work of del Toro’s imagination — a meditation on creation, isolation, and the fantastical — it is still compelling, still resonant, and still marked by the unmistakable touch of a filmmaker who has spent his career searching for beauty in the broken.

  • Saul Muerte

From Killer to Filler: Fear Street’s Prom Queen Fails to Reign

24 Saturday May 2025

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The crown may glitter, but this prom queen is all tulle and no terror.

Fear Street: Prom Queen stumbles into Netflix’s horror lineup with limp energy and even less imagination. Gone is the confident, genre-savvy edge that defined Leigh Janiak’s 2021 trilogy—a trio of interconnected films (1994, 1978, and 1666) that managed to surprise and delight by leaning into horror history while crafting its own mythology. That trilogy was vibrant, bloody, and bold—elevating RL Stine’s teen-friendly chills into something slick and cinematically compelling. With Prom Queen, the fall from Fear Street grace is as loud as it is underwhelming.

Janiak’s absence is keenly felt. What once felt like a love letter to horror has been reduced to a colourless cash-in, trading atmosphere and tension for hollow homage and tired tropes. Director Matt Palmer brings little visual flair or tonal conviction, and the script lacks the spark that made the earlier films feel alive with danger. There’s a fundamental disconnect between the material and its adaptation—as if it’s been lifted from the shelf and passed through a soulless streaming algorithm before making its way to screen.

And that’s a shame, because Prom Queen comes from decent stock. RL Stine’s original novel, while perhaps lighter on the bloodshed, delivered the kind of pulpy suspense and teen melodrama that made his work addictive for a generation. The story’s premise—deadly competition for the school crown—was ripe for a satirical or sinister update in the post-Carrie, post-Mean Girls horror landscape. Instead, the film barely flirts with either, delivering a painfully formulaic slasher that neither frightens nor surprises.

The kills, such as they are, feel half-hearted and predictable. Characters are introduced only to be dispatched minutes later, never afforded personalities beyond archetypes. Suspense is conspicuously absent, replaced by a mechanical rhythm of setup and slash that grows increasingly tiresome. It doesn’t help that the film plays it incredibly safe—never leaning into camp, nor darkness, nor even irony. It simply exists, like a photocopy of a photocopy, drained of the ink that once gave the franchise bite.

India Fowler stands out, her performance as Lori Granger offering flickers of emotion and control that the film doesn’t deserve. She does what she can with thin material and walks away mostly unscathed. The Newton Brothers’ score is another high point—synthy, nostalgic, and oddly elegant—almost a haunting echo of the trilogy’s sharper sound design. But these are isolated gems in an otherwise barren crown.

The Prognosis:

Fear Street: Prom Queen is a disappointing return to a once-promising franchise. It neither honours its roots nor pushes the story in new directions. Instead, it limps across the finish line with little to say and even less to feel. If this is the future of Fear Street, it may be time to turn back.

  • Movie Review by Saul Muerte

Movie Review: Time Cut (2024) – A Misstep Through Time

23 Monday Dec 2024

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Netflix’s Time Cut ambitiously attempts to blend time-travel mechanics with the slasher genre but ends up feeling like a weaker shadow of last year’s Totally Killer—a film that itself was only moderately successful. Directed by Hannah MacPherson and co-written with Michael Kennedy, the film stars Madison Bailey, Antonia Gentry, and Griffin Gluck in a story about familial bonds, personal redemption, and an overly complicated time loop that never quite clicks.

Set in the sleepy town of Sweetly, Minnesota, the narrative follows Lucy Field (Bailey), a young inventor who accidentally stumbles upon a time machine and travels back to 2003, just days before her sister Summer (Gentry) is murdered by the Sweetly Slasher. The setup initially teases intrigue: Lucy’s quest to save her sister from a grim fate while unraveling the mystery of a masked killer. But what could have been a thrilling fusion of Back to the Future and Scream collapses under a bloated script and inconsistent pacing.

The plot is weighed down by convoluted exposition and uninspired twists. While the reveal of the Sweetly Slasher’s identity—a future version of Quinn (Gluck), driven to madness—seeks to add emotional depth, it feels both predictable and underwhelming. Time-travel paradoxes, instead of enhancing the stakes, muddy the narrative.

On the positive side, Madison Bailey brings a commendable sincerity to Lucy, making her a relatable protagonist. Antonia Gentry, as Summer, delivers an emotionally charged performance, particularly in her scenes of reconciliation with Lucy. Their chemistry anchors the film, providing fleeting moments of genuine warmth.

The movie falters most in its inability to balance tone. The slasher elements lack tension, the sci-fi aspects are half-baked, and the humour—intended to offer levity—rarely lands. Moreover, the production design fails to convincingly evoke the early 2000s, a glaring oversight in a film that relies on its period setting.

Comparisons to Totally Killer are unavoidable, and unfortunately, Time Cut pales in every regard. Where Totally Killer leaned into its absurdity with a tongue-in-cheek charm, Time Cut takes itself too seriously, resulting in a tonal mismatch that alienates the viewer.

In the end, Time Cut is a classic case of wasted potential. While its premise and cast hint at something greater, the execution is lacklustre, leaving audiences with a film that neither entertains nor innovates. For those seeking time-travel thrills or slasher chills, it’s better to skip this cut entirely.

  • Saul Muerte

Time Cut is currently streaming on Netflix.

Don’t Move: A Thriller That Falters Despite a Strong Lead

06 Wednesday Nov 2024

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Don’t Move sets up a chilling scenario that would send shivers through even the steeliest viewer: grieving mother Iris (Kelsey Asbille) must fight for her life after a chance encounter with a ruthless serial killer who injects her with a paralytic agent. Directed by Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, the film attempts to merge high-stakes thrills with psychological horror, but it ultimately struggles to fully capitalise on its premise. Despite a well-rounded cast and bursts of tension, Don’t Move lacks the depth and danger that could have made it unforgettable.

The narrative begins with a promising setup as Iris, still reeling from personal tragedy, stumbles upon the killer. The film efficiently establishes a sense of urgency as she’s injected with the paralytic agent, setting a timer on her desperate attempt to escape before the drug takes hold. As she runs, hides, and fights to stay ahead of her assailant, the ticking clock injects some genuine suspense, and there are moments when Asbille’s performance as Iris—determined, terrified, and defiant—brings the urgency and fear to life.

Kelsey Asbille’s portrayal of Iris is commendable, as she navigates a spectrum of emotions from grief to desperation, giving a grounding force to a story that relies heavily on her character’s will to survive. Asbille’s performance feels layered and sincere, embodying a raw vulnerability that adds authenticity to the harrowing experience. Finn Wittrock, playing the serial killer, delivers a solid but somewhat predictable performance. Known for his versatility, Wittrock unfortunately leans into familiar territory here, lacking the nuance that could have elevated his character beyond the typical, single-minded predator. While he’s chilling in moments, Wittrock’s portrayal feels more like a trope than a fully realised antagonist, limiting the sense of menace he brings to the screen.

The film’s pacing is uneven, with moments of taut suspense broken up by lulls that feel oddly disconnected from the central tension. There are glimpses of innovation in the choreography of Iris’s attempts to elude her pursuer, yet the film rarely goes beyond surface-level thrills. While the script provides some gripping sequences, it often feels like Don’t Move is holding back, unwilling to push Iris’s ordeal into truly harrowing or unpredictable territory.

Much of Don’t Move‘s atmosphere hinges on its premise, but without a deeper exploration of Iris’s emotional or psychological state, the horror feels somewhat hollow. The directors capture a few standout moments of visual tension, but the film struggles to balance its action sequences with meaningful character development. Unlike films that masterfully blur the line between a physical and psychological threat, Don’t Move leans too heavily on formulaic horror conventions, never fully tapping into the deeper fears it flirts with.

The Prognosis:

Don’t Move offers an engaging thriller that falls short of its potential. Despite flashes of intensity and solid performances, it lacks the originality and edge to make it a lasting addition to the horror genre. For fans of survival thrillers, it may offer some fleeting thrills, but for those seeking a truly immersive experience, Don’t Move may feel disappointingly restrained.

  • Saul Muerte

Don’t Move is currently streaming on Netflix.

Woman of the Hour (2024): A Chilling Thriller in a Glossy Frame

22 Tuesday Oct 2024

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Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, takes on a chilling real-life story—Rodney Alcala, the infamous “Dating Game Killer.” In 1978, Alcala appeared on the popular TV show The Dating Game in the middle of a brutal killing spree. Kendrick not only directs but stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, the unwitting contestant opposite Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), whose charm on-screen masked his true, horrifying nature. It’s a fascinating premise, blending the glitz of a Hollywood game show with the sinister undercurrent of a serial killer hiding in plain sight.

What Woman of the Hour gets right is its ability to shock. The film doesn’t shy away from unsettling moments, particularly in the quieter scenes where Alcala’s sociopathic tendencies creep to the surface. Zovatto’s portrayal of Alcala is convincingly cold, and the moments of tension between him and Kendrick’s Bradshaw deliver the kind of unsettling atmosphere that one expects from a crime thriller. Kendrick’s nuanced performance carries Cheryl’s vulnerability and growing unease in the face of Alcala’s facade, making the character relatable and grounded in the surreal horror unfolding around her.

However, while the subject matter is disturbing, the film often feels too sugar-coated. There’s a Hollywood sheen that distracts from the gritty reality of Alcala’s monstrous acts. The stylized presentation of The Dating Game era, with its bright lights and campy format, clashes with the darkness beneath the surface. This juxtaposition feels deliberate, but the film doesn’t always balance it well, often glazing over the true terror of the situation. It’s as if Woman of the Hour is afraid to fully descend into the horror, opting for a thriller that plays it safe rather than delving deeply into the grotesque nature of Alcala’s crimes.

The movie works best when it lets the reality of Alcala’s actions bleed through the showbiz gloss. There are moments where the film breaks the bright exterior to hint at the true horrors Alcala was committing during the time. These moments are genuinely disturbing but too few and far between, making the film feel more like a dramatization than a full exploration of Alcala’s twisted psyche.

The Prognosis:

Woman of the Hour is an intriguing crime thriller with strong performances and an inherently fascinating true-crime angle. However, its reliance on surface-level thrills and polished presentation ultimately holds it back from becoming the gripping, deep-dive examination that the story demands. It leaves viewers with the unsettling truth of what Alcala did but doesn’t push far enough to leave a lasting impact. The film’s draw lies in its shocking subject matter, but it feels like a case of style over substance, never quite willing to peel away the layers of horror lurking beneath.

  • Saul Muerte

Woman of the Hour is currently streaming on Netflix.

It’s What’s Inside (2024) – A Twisted Tale of Identity and Revenge

06 Sunday Oct 2024

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It’s What’s Inside delivers a twisted, high-concept psychological thriller, exploring the dark side of identity, body swapping, and the lengths people will go to when driven by revenge, jealousy, and ambition. Directed by Greg Jardin, the film’s central premise—the manipulation of bodies and identities through a cutting-edge device—presents a disturbing reflection on the cost of transformation, both physical and moral.

The story revolves around a group of friends who reunite at Reuben’s (Devon Terrell) house for a pre-wedding party. Amid the celebration, their estranged friend Forbes (David W. Thompson) reappears, carrying a strange device that allows its users to swap bodies with one another. What begins as a game quickly spirals into chaos as lies are exposed, hidden desires come to light, and deep-seated grudges from their college days erupt with deadly consequences.

The film’s greatest strength lies in its unsettling portrayal of how changing one’s body—whether for vanity, power, or escape—can expose the true, often corrupt, personalities that lie within. As the group engages in their body-swapping game, it becomes clear that their outward transformations only serve to amplify their internal flaws. Forbes’s invention doesn’t just allow the characters to slip into new skins; it brings out the darkness they’ve hidden beneath the surface. As identities blur and alliances crumble, each character is forced to confront the parts of themselves they’ve tried to repress, revealing a disturbing lack of empathy and moral decay.

One of the most compelling elements of It’s What’s Inside is its critique of a generation that has lost sight of its purpose. The characters—consumed by a need for success, revenge, and personal gain—are driven by their ambitions with little concern for the consequences. Shelby (Brittany O’Grady), who eagerly embraces her newfound appearance after swapping into Nikki’s (Alycia Debnam-Carey) body, exemplifies this obsession with image and social media status. Meanwhile, Cyrus’s (James Morosini) jealousy and insecurity bubble over as he navigates the body-swapping game, becoming a key player in the film’s explosive climax. The group, so intent on achieving what they believe to be success, revenge, or escape, fail to realize the dangers of playing with their identities until it’s too late.

As the narrative escalates, we see the tragic consequences of their actions—deaths, betrayal, and a complete breakdown of trust including a shocking demise during the second round of body swapping sets the stage for the film’s darker turn, as Forbes, Shelby, and the others begin to unravel, trapped in a vicious cycle of lies and deception. The notion of swapping bodies as a game becomes a perverse metaphor for youth’s reckless pursuit of validation, where nothing—including one’s own identity—is sacred or permanent.

The ending leaves a lasting impression, and a final twist of revenge, leaving the audience and its players in a world where no one’s identity is fixed and everyone is willing to sacrifice their true selves for personal gain, It’s What’s Inside raises unsettling questions about the lengths people will go to control their own narratives. Even after the dust settles, the repercussions of the group’s actions hang over them, leaving the audience with an eerie sense of inevitability.

The Prognosis:

It’s What’s Inside offers a disturbing exploration of identity, revenge, and the corrupting influence of ambition. While the plot occasionally stumbles under the weight of its complex narrative, the film still manages to deliver a chilling commentary on the cost of changing one’s body, and by extension, oneself. As youth grapples with the allure of success and validation, the film serves as a cautionary tale of how easily one can lose sight of who they truly are. With its unsettling atmosphere and darkly intriguing concept, It’s What’s Inside lingers in the mind, reminding us that the greatest horrors come from within.

  • Saul Muerte

It’s What’s Inside is currently streaming on Netflix.

The Deliverance (2023) – A Character-Driven Drama That Falls Back on Familiar Formulas

14 Saturday Sep 2024

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The Deliverance, based on a true story, aims to delve deep into the emotional and personal struggles of its characters, particularly those portrayed by Glenn Close and Andra Day. At first glance, it promises a gripping, introspective journey, focusing on the kind of slow-burn, character-driven drama that pulls you in. However, while the film does dedicate ample time to fleshing out its protagonists, it unfortunately stumbles by offering little else to elevate the overall experience.

The film takes its time to build up its central characters, Close and Day in particular, giving the audience a peek into their inner worlds and traumas. Their performances are solid, with Close bringing her seasoned gravitas and Day delivering a commendable portrayal of emotional depth. This focus on character development is understandable, considering it’s a true story, and the filmmakers clearly want us to empathise with their journey. The problem, however, is that the film seems overly invested in this process to the detriment of its narrative pacing and structure.

Once we move past the extensive character-building, what’s left is a plot that feels like it’s on autopilot. Instead of diving into new, thought-provoking territory, The Deliverance resorts to formulaic tropes that have been recycled countless times before. The tension builds, as expected, but there’s an unmistakable feeling that you’ve seen it all before in other dramas of its kind—films from yesteryear that The Deliverance borrows from without adding anything fresh to the mix.

The film’s reliance on tried and tested formulas creates a sense of predictability, leaving few surprises for the audience. Even moments that should hit hard emotionally feel muted because the narrative follows such a familiar path. What starts as an intriguing, personal story ultimately loses momentum, weighed down by clichés and conventional plot devices that strip the film of its potential impact.

The Prognosis:

Despite the strong performances and a promising setup, The Deliverance falls short in its attempt to be more than the sum of its parts. Its commitment to character development is admirable but comes at the cost of the film’s overall engagement, leaving the audience with a story that feels hollow beneath the surface.

  • Saul Muerte

Under Paris: A Sinking Shark Thriller with Fleeting Moments of Frenzy

06 Thursday Jun 2024

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Netflix’s Under Paris attempts to dive deep into the shark horror genre, but unfortunately, it mostly treads water. While the film does have its moments, it ultimately feels like a mish-mash of recycled tropes, CGI overload, and a lack of genuine tension that leaves viewers unsatisfied.

The premise of Under Paris is intriguing enough: in order to save Paris from an international bloodbath, a grieving scientist is forced to face her tragic past when a giant shark appears in the Seine. However, the execution falls flat. The movie churns out all the shark horror chum we’ve seen before, blending it into an uninspired and predictable narrative. The CGI sharks lack realism, making it hard to suspend disbelief, and their overuse detracts from any potential suspense.

One of the most glaring issues is the film’s inability to build and maintain tension. Scenes that should be pulse-pounding instead feel routine and lackluster. The constant reliance on jump scares and clichéd horror elements fails to evoke the kind of dread that makes for a memorable shark horror film.

That said, Under Paris isn’t without its redeeming qualities. The catacombs scene stands out as a highlight, offering a chaotic and entertaining spectacle. The claustrophobic setting, combined with the frenetic pace, injects a dose of much-needed excitement and mayhem. It’s a brief glimpse of what the film could have been with better execution and more imaginative storytelling.

However, these moments are few and far between. Too many scenes are visually disorienting, resembling the view from inside a washing machine. This shaky, swirling camera work detracts from the action and leaves viewers feeling more nauseous than thrilled. It’s a stylistic choice that might have aimed to enhance the sense of panic but instead contributes to the overall sense of disarray.

In conclusion, Under Paris sinks more than it swims. Despite a few fun moments in the catacombs, the film is bogged down by overdone CGI, lack of tension, and disorienting cinematography. While it may offer some superficial thrills for die-hard fans of the genre, it ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression.

The Prognosis:

Under Paris is now streaming on Netflix, but unless you’re a completist for shark horror films, you might find yourself diving into disappointment.

  • Saul Muerte

1960s Horror Retrospective: House of Usher (1960)

27 Saturday Apr 2024

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Up until now, American International Pictures had been overseeing black and white features shot on a low budget. House of Usher would prove a vital turning point for the film production company, marking it as the first that would be shot in colour. It would also be the first in seven collaborations between director Roger Corman and the enigmatic Vincent Price based on American Gothic writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe’s work. Although it strains a little from this well-known piece, one which modern audiences would be familiar with through Mike Flanagan’s love song to the artist, it is well crafted and stylised to have generated a worthy audience at the box office.

When Philip Winthrop embarks on a visit to the titular house in order to see his fiance Madeline Usher (Myrna Fahey) is greeted by her brother, Roderick (Price) instead. Roderick is hellbent on encouraging Philip to leave for fear that the usher curse that has been placed on the family and its household should further bring ruin to the couple. Philip does not take on this warning and instead aims to steal Madeline from the house. This plan falls awry though when Madeline slips into a catatonic state, and her fiance resigns with a heavy heart that his betrothed has died. Roderick meanwhile ebbs further into a state of madness, believing the curse to have struck again and entombing Madeline in the family crypt. This act is enough to send poor Madeline into hysteria, and thus the two siblings are joined in their own pandemonium.

Madness and its frailty is certainly exposed here as the core theme to the film and Vincent Price’s amplified performance is never more on song than here. From a bumper year in 1959, turning out in horror classics such as House on Haunted Hill; The Tingler; and The Bat, Price would cement his name in the dark genre and take great strides in the sixties and early seventies. This is very much his movie, ably supported by the visual chemistry of set design, gore and the quality of special effects for its time.

– Saul Muerte

1960s Horror Retrospective

The Flesh and the Fiend

Eyes Without A Face

Peeping Tom

Psycho

The Brides of Dracula

Movie review: Run Rabbit Run (2023)

11 Tuesday Jul 2023

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Run Rabbit Run begins with an incredible vista of shallow flooded plains, white bark trees protrude out of the sheen, it’s an incredible and eerie sight. We find our lead, Sarah (played by Succession’s Sarah Snook), lying on a muddy bank. There is no indication of what has happened but it is a foreboding promise, a promise which the film never really keeps.

Flashing back we learn that Sarah is a healthcare worker specialising in fertility, she is co-parenting her daughter Mia (Lily Latore), nicknamed Bunny, with her ex-husband (Damon Herriman) who is starting a new family with his partner; and Sarah’s father has recently passed away. This full serving of life is only intensified when a white rabbit appears on their front doorstep which Mia adopts in more ways than one. Making a crude pink rabbit mask (that serves are the main imagery used in the films marketing), Mia begins her transformation into “Creepy Horror Kid”, insisting that she is actually named Alice (the news of Sarah’s younger sister who had disappeared when they were children). Mia regularly haunts doorways and windows watching Sarah, drawing disturbing drawings on the backs of all of her art projects and insists that she wants to see her “real mother”. Sarah relents and takes Mia to visit her grandmother, who is living in an aged care facility, suffering from dementia. As the film progresses Sarah is pulled further back into her past as her mind unravels.

Written by Australian author Hannah Kent (her first feature screenplay) and directed by Daina Reid (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Secret River), the film is a poetic, almost lyrical exploration of grief and guilt and feels very literary. There a few key allusions to Alice in Wonderland, that feel like they may spiral into something more fantastical but never do. For the duration, the movie walks a fine line of madness and metaphor that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The horror tropes that are deployed are well trodden ground and may even feel a little uninspired. It’s hard to keep The Babadook out of your mind while watching Run Rabbit Run, the same kind of motherly decedent into grief and guilt stricken madness is explored but where The Babadook thrived in creating its own mythology and closed circuit world, Run Rabbit Run feels more scatter shot.

Cinematographer Bonnie Elliott (These Final Hours, The Turning) creates such a rich atmosphere and features some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen in an Australian film, the flood plains, the rivers, cliffside beach. Elliot and Reid showcase and integrate the landscapes into the film, there is no feeling of them being tacked-on second unit shots. It is a wonderful advertisement for Victorian tourism, which is a bit of a backhanded complement for a horror film.

The Prognosis:

Ultimately the film is beautifully shot, strongly performed and manages to carry a sense of dread throughout most of the run time, giving us a few solid scares, but it feels like a shallow adaptation of a book with so many threads that deserve more investigation and a hollowness that the prose would certainly fill. 2.5/5

  • Oscar Jack