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[Review] ‘The Horror’ Is New-Wave Lynchian Storytelling

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At its simplest, The Horror is about one man’s descent into an accepted madness, which I’ll get to. But The Horror isn’t a simple horror film, it isn’t really even fair to call it a straight genre flick. At a tight run time of 74 minutes (including credits), the audience is lead through events following the death of the main character’s mother. Twins, Isabelle, and Malcolm take their significant others up to their parents cabin to close it up for the winter. And then things get weird.

Side Bar: Before I go further I should mention that this story is being told to a psychiatrist by Isabelle. Actually, up until the last 15 minutes or so the entire movie is told as a flashback from her perspective. While she was around for a majority of her brother’s breakdowns, her own narcissistic personality makes her into somewhat of an unreliable narrator.

It’s implied the twins have somewhat of a psychic connection like they usually do, which makes it almost impossible for them to relate to anyone else. Too bad for their significant others because, after a painful marriage proposal went wrong and a robust showing of disregard for another person’s feelings, the twins are soon left alone at the cabin. Which, bravo for that fake out set up! Four 20 somethings go to a lake house right before winter, we expect them to get killed by a maniac in a mask. And no, I didn’t spoil you, this all occurs very early on in the movie thanks to that short run time.

The role of Malcolm, played by Raymond Creamer, has to be one of the most intense and rattling performances I’ve seen in some time. On one side, he is a regular guy that we all knew in college who was just friendly with everyone but deep down Malcolm is something much more unstable. According to Isabelle, her brother believes that human beings are born the way they are and nothing can change them. Basically, instead of every decision we make shaping us, we actually make it because of the person we are already shaped into from birth. Because of this, Malcolm doesn’t respond well to traditional social relationships and finds creeptastic solace in his twin sister. Remember that “accepted madness” thing? That’s this. Malcolm calmly slides into a psychosis without struggle because he feels that’s just nature’s course and it’s one of the more unnerving things I’ve seen in a horror film recently. As I was watching Creamer become more and more engulfed in madness I felt like I was seeing a different modern take on Norman Bates.

Mechanically The Horror fairs well despite some slightly blurred scenes here and there. The other performances throughout the film are somewhat stiff, but all showed future potential after they loosened up a bit. However, the film does want us to focus more on Malcolm and as I said, Creamer steals the show.

The Horror isn’t going to be loved by all, but it’s an extremely refreshing way of storytelling. Horror fans looking for T&A and gore should move along but if you are in the mood for something to ravage you psychological step right in. Fair warning though, it’s a slow burn so lean back and let the tension creep into the corners of your mind.

Jess is a Northeast Ohio native who has loved all things horror and fringe since birth. She has a tendency to run at the mouth about it and decided writing was the only way not to scare everyone away. If you make a hobby into a career it becomes less creepy. Unless that hobby is collecting baby dolls. Nothing makes that less creepy.

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‘Late Night With the Devil’ – Exclusive Clip Begins the Supernatural Horror on Halloween 1977

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The upcoming Late Night With the Devil is one of the most buzzed about horror movies of the year, currently 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and earning rave reviews from both Stephen King and Kevin Smith. King raves that the film is “absolutely brilliant,” adding that he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Smith comments, “I love it. It’s Rosemary’s Baby meets Network.”

David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad) stars as the host of a late-night talk show that descends into a nightmare in the Ghostwatch and WNUF Halloween Special-inspired film.

IFC Films & Shudder will release the hotly anticipated Late Night with the Devil theatrically on March 22 before it heads to Shudder exclusively on April 19, 2024.

Begin the horror with a brand new EXCLUSIVE clip below…

David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, the charismatic host of “Night Owls,” and the film traces the ill-fated taping of a live Halloween special in 1977 plagued by a demonic presence.

The energetic and innovative feature hails from Australian writing-directing team Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign). 

The film premiered last year at SXSW. Meagan wrote in her review out of the fest, “Late Night with the Devil captures the chaotic energy of a late night show, embracing the irreverent comedy and stress of live television with a pastiche style. It’s a clever trojan horse for a surprising horror movie that goes full throttle on unhinged demonic mayhem.

“The ingenuity, the painstaking period recreation, a riveting performance by Dastmalchian, and a showstopper of a finale make for one Halloween event you won’t want to miss.”

Spooky Pictures founders Roy Lee (It, The Grudge, The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Pet Sematary, Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Derek Dauchy (“Al Kameen”) and Future Pictures’ Mat Govoni (“Lone Wolf”) and Adam White (“Lone Wolf”) and John Molloy are all producing.

Joel Anderson (Lake Mungo), Rami Yasin, and David Dastmalchian executive produce.

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