Proxy

Opening with a shocking sequence, treading an interesting path during the first act, taking an unexpected turn in the middle, dragging from that point onwards and finally drowning in its own mess by the time it nears its conclusion, Proxy may seem like a violent, unflinching, gore-filled horror but in actuality is a dull & bloated psychological horror filled with wooden characters.

The story of Proxy follows two women. First is Esther, a pregnant young lady who loses her child after being brutally attacked by an unidentified person while on her way home. Her road to recovery begins when she joins a support group where she meets & befriends Melanie, who claims that her husband & child died in a road accident. Things head for worse when Esther discovers Melanie's secret.

Co-written, co-produced & directed by Zach Parker, Proxy opens on such a promising note that watching it fall flat after a while was all the more frustrating. The downslide starts when the director decides to shift the focus from one character to another and once that happens, everything after it feels absurd & mundane. Parker also fails to provide a gripping plot or a set of characters worth caring for, and it runs way too long.

There isn't much to talk about its technical aspects for it didn't improve the experience by any means. There are a numerous poor decisions made here as far as camera-work, editing or background score goes. A pivotal scene is turned into an off-putting moment by its slow- mo photography that overstays its welcome & looks unintentionally funny. Editing is virtually absent in the second half. And the background score fails to blend with the narrative.

On an overall scale, Proxy is a highly mediocre horror film that falls utterly short of whatever it was aspiring to be, features weak plotting & questionable character motives, and doesn't even revel in extremity for the R-rated elements are heavily toned down after the gruesome opening act. Neither the cast nor their input stand out here although the actress who plays Esther Woodhouse was slowly getting the hang of her character and I'd have loved to see more of that instead of what Proxy had in store for me. An absolute waste of time!

Nothing is as it seems in this bizarre, Hitchcockian mystery thriller. Unfortunately, it doesn't all add up, either. Don't wait for an ending that wraps it all up--there isn't any, which it too bad for a film that is very well made and acted. The story starts with a bang, a brutal and senseless assault that occurs before the opening credits. And then it builds ... slowly ... ever so slowly--at a pace some may find atmospheric but others will consider tedious. As the story finally progresses, it gradually reveals that what seems to be going on isn't what's really going on, as each layer of the story hits yet another twist, leading to yet another layer. Who or what is this story about? Who's the protagonist? Who's the antagonist? It keeps the audience off balance. Somewhere in the middle was the mother of all continuity errors, where a character was wearing a bloody shirt inside the house, then a clean version of the same shirt outside the house, then the bloody version again when he went back into the house. Was the outside an extra scene that was shot later and then inserted into the film? Or was this inconsistency purposely part of the story to convey that what obviously is happening isn't really happening after all? Several things that character does never add up and are never explained. For a horror movie, there's little gore, most violence is implied or portrayed indirectly, and the blood is downright artistic. The focus is on the story. The film is very well made, it's just too bad that the story doesn't make more sense.

This is an outstanding film, but it isn't for everyone.

It isn't a slasher-screamer-jump out of your seat flick. No no.

This film gained my shocked interest immediately, and to be frank it was held throughout the rest of the ride.

This is definitely not a film for anyone who has recently suffered a loss, in fact it should be viewed by the loss-experienced only when they have completely recovered and can look at anything. Preferably YEARS after they've fully recovered, because it will take you right back to the grimness of deep loss and the eternal question, why ?

For those who work in the field, or have seen others go through loss and grief, or have experienced counter-cultures on a personal basis, this film is an incredible insight into the workings of twisted minds, no matter be they rich, poor, in-between or socially minded misguideds who treat their clients like fodder.

Superbly acted, very well crafted and a sensible and life-like script and dialogue are to be rewarded with praise indeed.

Just be sure to be aware of your mental strength before you embark on a true roller-coaster ride that is definitely not by proxy....

A-Z Horror Movie of the Day..."Proxy" (NR - 2013 - US)

Sub-Genre: Psycho/Disturb My Score: 6.3

Cast=4 Acting=8 Plot=5 Ending=6 Story=8 Scare=3 Jump=4 F/X=7 Psycho=9 Twist=9

The life of three parents who have all shared the loss of a child. Motives are not what they seem and sanity is in short supply in this thriller.

This movie will make me think twice about joining a support group! What starts with one horrific incident turns into many other horrific incidents. It was like a game of "Psycho Wars"; where only the most deranged may live on for a book signing and a TV movie. This is not scary, but disturbing as hell! This is one to have you shaking your head afterward. Is it weird that I no longer think therapy is a good idea? I didn't think so either.

At first thought, Proxy isn't a horror film because it doesn't concern elements we commonly associate with horror, such as serial killers, demons, and supernatural occurrences. However, it contains the horror elements some of us tragically face as human beings, such as rape, miscarriage, distrust, betrayal, and loneliness in such a way that makes for an experience thriving on fear and uncertainty. I love when films, independent or mainstream, go off on tangents and completely catch me off guard with their intelligence and craft.

We are first greeted with Esther Woodhouse (Alexia Rasmussen), a pregnant woman who, judging by the looks of her stomach, is very close to her due date, emerging from a clinic to only be savagely attacked by a random mugger. She suffers a miscarriage and is left physically deformed, and, due to obtaining the sperm from a sperm bank, has almost nobody to help her through her tragedy. On an off- the-cuff decision, Esther visits a support group for grieving parents, where she meets Melanie Michaels (Alexa Havins), who claims her husband and son were killed. Esther becomes close with Melanie, much to the dismay of Esther's jealous lover Anika Barön (Kristina Klebe).

This is all of the plot I'm willing to give away, for Proxy is one of those films where the line between basic plot summation and spoiler territory is so incredibly thin that another few words added to a sentence could spoil more of the movie experience. It doesn't matter, though, for I'm in the business of opinion and not synopsis. From the moment it kicks off, Proxy is potent and terrifying as a horror film, always engaging the viewer with elements of mystery and character insincerity and keeping them immersed by moving quite frequently and scarcely letting up. In addition, the performances, specifically Rasmussen and Havins, convey a detached and disconnected sense of reality that is almost necessary in a film where the audience is unsure of who is honest, as well as the characters themselves.

On top of that, there is a serious feeling of contempt and loathe that looms over the viewer with every scene, making this a deeper and more investing horror film than I initially imagined. The way the film plays with your emotions by taking numerous social tragedies and lumping together, not for shock, but for the sake of narrative potency and the near-personification of fear is just delightful. Director and co- writer Zack Parker (working alongside writing partner Kevin Donner) take their time to allow slowburn tension to develop, as Proxy occupies a liberally-used two hours, sometimes focusing on conversation, character interest, or events, depending on the current mood of the writers. At two hours, there is ample amount of time to spend on all these aspects, assuring we never get a thoughtful film that races by too quickly to even be analyzed.

Proxy's only issue is that not every performer can make the transition from disconnected to fiery and fuming with anger, most notably Joe Swanberg, one of my favorite directors, who has played low-key for so long perhaps his attempt at sudden rage just feels off-kilter for that reason. There is an understandable mixed reaction to Proxy for more than just its performances, but above all, like many films released under the IFC Midnight label, it's a nasty but thoroughly commendable piece of work illustrating fine- tuned components in a genre that so desperately needs not only some subversiveness but some age-old ideas done correctly rather than haphazardly.

Starring: Alexia Rasmussen, Alexa Havins, Kristina Klebe, and Joe Swanberg. Directed by: Zack Parker.