DarkAnnie

This film is going to make you uncomfortable. If you're a gore-hound or adrenaline junkie, you'll definitely get what you want. You'll also get a head full of disturbing social-psychological horror that will leave you thinking for days. The story seems simple at first. Three innocent young men run afoul of a violent homeless gang. But who's really innocent? Who really are the bad guys? The good guys? The situation gets more complex as the action ratchets up. The direction is excellent and unnerving. There's something unique about the look of a Chad Ferrin movie that I can't quite put my finger on. The acting is top-notch. I want to mention that the use of sound and music is excellent and jarringly effective--another hallmark of a Ferrin film. This is a terrific movie, but go in with your eyes open, or you're gonna get gut-punched. You probably will anyway.

Wow. This isn't an easy film to review. Its storyline seems straightforward: a road trip gone horribly wrong. But the narrative operates on so many levels. I can't go into what all of these are without dropping a spoiler, but I will say that it contains elements of eco-horror and sociological horror. The three main cast members do a fine job, particularly Mi Chelle Nessk's Abbie. Sweet and sheltered but smart and adventurous, she's a mix of classical horror movie victim and a new kind of character just beginning to find her strength. There's a sense of dread and doom almost from the start of this movie. Abbie is the light in the darkness, and as I watched, I grew more and more afraid for her. Anyway. I could talk about the levels of symbolism in O.U. for hours, but I won't. I want you to find them for yourself.

First off, this movie is gorgeous. It's so well shot, and the art direction is amazing. I can see why it was categorized as horror--it contains body horror and lots of gore-- but I wouldn't call it a horror film. It's about reaching out beyond the meat sacks we live in and touching other people, essence to essence. It's about love and addiction and heartbreak. It's about violence, detachment, and the pain of re-engaging with life. The acting is, for the most part, wonderful. Part of the story is told with paper animation, a film within a film created by one of the two main characters. This sub-story weaves in and out of the main story, and resonates beautifully. Don't watch this film if you're already sad--it will yank your heart out and play racquetball with it. But if you're feeling strong and you want to see something truly original and inspired, watch Androgynym.