Excroissance

This movie truly made me ugly cry. I have Borderline Personality Disorder, in other words I have this disgusting, ferocious "appendage" that feeds me lies and drains me of all my energy. But here is the catch, it's all happening inside my head!

This film is a true representation of the depression, paranoia, and anxiety that accompanies the disorder. I often feel like I grow weaker as my illness grows stronger and forever tied to it.

Unresolved childhood trauma, especially with the relationship with her mother had me sobbing. I want to ask her to watch it, maybe she'll get to understand me. Wishful thinking.

Of course while watching this, I kept thinking about Basket Case and wondered if the director took some inspiration from it, or it just happened for the same idea to resurface after so many years.

And just like in the case of Basket Case, I couldn't look away. Now the difference between these two is that the first relies on some gore and for those times, utter violence, while Appendance is trying to be smarter and even introduces a twist to this genre.

If you want to judge Appendace all on its own, I think it's less fun, so definitely make time for Basket Case as well. 3 parts as I remember, but at least watch the first.

For a solo Appendance appreciation, I do believe it is a solid effort, it is shocking without being gross or violent and it does keep you curious throughout its run time. So I definitely believe this should be seen by horror fans, as it comes out rather fresh, intriguing and even offers a free moral lesson.

Watch it and you'll find out.

Cheers!

Hannah (Hadley Robinson) is a young fashion designer struggling at work. She has a pain in her side and something is growing out of it. A creature out of her doubts emerges. She seeks help from a self-help group where she is befriended by Claudia (Emily Hampshire).

This is more allegory than horror. It needs help to be more scary. Mostly, the creature is too campy or too cheap. It takes any realism out of the movie. It should be devastating body horror. Instead, I'm looking at it side eyed. To be fair, it's not trying to be camp. It has no humor to speak of. It would be better as a slug coming out of her body.

Appendage is a very strange and disturbing story of how depression can effect a person. In this movie, Hannah's depression and inner thoughts come together in a very strange way. This creature-esque body horror shows an intense story of how one can come out of depression with the help of people are them if you let them and if they listen. This film takes a complete turn and it's one you're not expecting which is so well done for this movie. The pace for this movie is good for a movie of this type and for a Hulu original movie it's definitely worth the watch. If you're coming into this expecting to be scared though, you're watching the wrong movie. This movie is disturbing and disgusting and will have you cringing at some of the most disgusting moments. I'm giving this movie a 3.5/5 for its perfect pacing but was a more basic story that comes together well.

I suffer with depression and anxiety and self esteem issues and etc etc, so the lesson of accepting how you feel and just treating yourself kindly is one you learn to be able to cope with these issues, and this movie does a great job of giving us a visual representation of this idea with a fun horror flare.

It has funny moments, gross moments and many relatable moments. It's not particularly scary, it's more of a bizarre fever dream kind of experience.

Either way: Would I watch this again? Yes.

Would I recommend it? Yes, to those who aren't too serious or can't suspend belief.

Will you miss anything by skipping this movie? I'll conservatively say yes, it has a fun twist and could help people who have yet to learn how to handle mental and emotional troubles.

Characters? They were all fine I thought, no one too annoying or anything. My only huge peeve was the main character taking what felt like forever to go to the doctor about the nasty thing developing on her side XD

Was it interesting? Yes, I thought it was. Nothing wild, but enough to enjoy.

Thought provoking? Yes, definitely a window to our modern stresses and how we neglect those injuries.

I liked it.