The film starts off with a bang. There is a girl tied and bound in a dark and dungeon looking cellar. It's a great hook to pull the viewer in, starting off immediately in the middle of the story. We find out her name is Abigail. As we progress through the film, we are shuttled from the present moment, into the past, to and fro. We follow the main protagonist character, Abigail (played by Meghan Adara) as she is trying to navigate her way through a labyrinth of long dingy stone corridors, as she desperately tries to escape her confinement, imprisoned in a cell with chains on the wall and an iron door to lock her in. This is a great introduction into the film.
As we dive right in, we are brought to a support group for addicts at a church, and the therapist is Gabriel the priest (played by Neil James.) As soon as I saw him, he seemed off, there is something about the way he talks, his looks, he creeped me out. At this early stage we don't yet know their individual addictions, or who they are, until the scenes when we head back into the past with flashbacks that reveal little bits of information. Andrew (played by Tom Clear,) and Laura (played by Charlotte Marshall) are both recovering addicts, and something terrible happens to them in the cellar.
Meanwhile, in the present moment, Abigail comes across someone in a mask and cape. These scenes of her following this person to find a way out, and then that person is in turn following her to stop her from leaving; it certainly feels like a game of cat and mouse, or perhaps it's deliberate? I like this as it adds mystery into the storyline. I appreciated the fear and terror in her eyes, and drawn across her face, as she hides from this stranger. The setting in the cellar is amazing! It really added the scare factor into the story arc. It's an abysmal place. I appreciated the colour changes from faded, to red, and it helps to formulate the mood and different tones. A coldness drifts in the cellar, some places are dark, and some areas are lit by red candles. The elaborate changes enhance the film greatly.
So, although the pacing may feel a little long winded at times, as there is quite a lot of running around the cellar, some people may not see the importance of the pacing, but I know it is to develop upon the suspense and tension and build upon the story. We get to see how determined Abigail is in her plight to escape the cellar. It gives us a glimpse of her personality in a crisis. These are all great elements that are elaborating the film in a wonderful way. There is a major twist that changes everything. A dramatic shift in tone occurs when Abigail finds herself in a situation that she can't comprehend. When she wakes in a room cast in golden colours after the darkness of the cellar, it really changes up the setting, mood, and adds richness into the scene. When she finds a guard costume in the wardrobe it adds another twist into the storyline. Abigail is curious when she finally makes her way upstairs. She finds many surprises that add to the ambiguity of the situation. I like the soft classical music as we follow her around.
Throughout the film we remain with Abigail, from a first person POV. It suits this film, and augments it to where we can appreciate the story through her eyes, and that the POV isn't third person omniscient, it helps to keep the story well contained. I really appreciate the scary images of Abigail whenever she looks in a mirror; it's a great way to deliver her changes in an artful way. She comes across another member of the support group, Darren (played by Obie Dean) and he looks very different, as we see a flashback to the group, where Darren is explaining his story.
As she meanders from room to room, I like that it sets up this old Victorian house setting, and the vastness of the structure. It's much like the cellar with it's labyrinthine setting. An interesting dilemma takes place when she tries to contact people on her cellphone. Something isn't right, they can't hear her. It's another twist as we approach the ending. Her anxiety is gut wrenching to watch. It is such an emotive scene to add a sense of sadness into the storyline.
The sound of a gong draws her to another room. However, before she enters, she discovers another member of the support group who is standing guard. Sarah (played by Mickaela Sands) has changed. Like all the other people from the group, they have now been found in different states, it really pushes the narrative that the support group is not all it appears to be. As we enter another flashback scene we are back with Gabriel as he closes the session with a rant that is in line with what becomes of the members. We are introduced to John (played by Wayne Liversidge) who enters the room as the sacrament prayer is being recited by Gabriel. What they are offered in the session makes the whole film make sense, a resolution of how this all began. I like that it wraps around the film as we are taken forward again to the final scene, in the present moment. What happens at the end is so twisted and unexpected, it is sure to make you think twice about going to a support group at a church. It really punched me in the stomach. Fantastic! I think the lesson here is that there are evil people out there in the world, and one must be careful who they trust and put their faith in.
Overall, the sensory details are phenomenal, as well as the setting, the moods, tone changes, the concept, characterisation, attention to detail, all the elements to cement this as a must watch film, that does not disappoint. This is not a horror as much as it is a supernatural story about vulnerable members of society being used for untoward purposes by a group of maniacs. This is a character film, and it works. I recommend this to anyone wanting to see something great play out in the realm of independent films.
Reviewed by Del Gibson.
