Pollen

Because of the ridiculous minimum character count I'll be repeating myself several times. This is NOT a horror movie. I have no idea what movie the other reviewer saw, but it couldn't be this one. The characters, all are not relatable, not sympathetic and the actors portraying them just can't. Nothing redeeming about this movie. Nothing enjoyable. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one.

Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, not a horror, NOT a horror, NOT a horror, Not a horror, NOT a Horror, Not a horror, don't be duped this is NOT a horror. No.

The synopsis for the 2023 horror movie "Pollen" certainly was something else. When I stumbled upon this 2023 horror movie from writer and director DW Medoff, of course I opted to watch it on account of it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen. And I am a big fan of all things horror after all.

But since I had never heard about the movie, I didn't know what I was in for, nor did I have any expectations. All I knew about "Pollen" was what I read in the synopsis. So I assume that writer and director DW Medoff had every opportunity to entertain and impress me.

The narrative in the movie was odd. The storyline sort of fell short of adequately entertaining me. Sure, it was a watchable movie, but I had expecting more horror, but was treated to a toxic work environment drama for the majority of the movie. Not exactly what I was expecting.

When I sat down to watch "Pollen", I was under the impression that it was a horror movie. I have to say, though, that it was not a horror movie. It was a psychological drama with very light supernatural elements to it.

I was not familiar with a single actress or actor on the cast list, and that was actually something that spoke well in favor of "Pollen", as I do enjoy watching unfamiliar and new talents on the screen. The acting performances in the movie were actually good.

Hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing. I wouldn't exactly say that "Pollen" is a movie that I would recommend horror fans to rush out and get to watch.

My rating of writer and director DW Medoff's 2023 movie "Pollen" lands on a four out of ten stars.

"Pollen" unfolds as a haunting tale, shrouded in enigma and foreboding, following the journey of Hera, a determined young woman seeking to ascend the treacherous rungs of the corporate ladder. However, Hera's path takes a chilling turn when she becomes a victim of a sinister act, her innocence shattered by the touch of her malevolent boss. As Hera fights to salvage her shattered career, a sense of inexplicable dread begins to seep into every facet of her existence, infiltrating not only her workplace and sanctuary but also the ethereal realm of her dreams. The movie seems to be dripping in symbolism. Would not classify it as horror. The intro song from Liana Flores - Rises the moon has a reference to the daffodil (Yellow Narcissus). This flower symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It's one of the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter, announcing the beginning of spring and signifying the end of the cold, dark days. Less commonly, daffodils may also symbolize creativity, energy, resilience, forgiveness, and vitality. Next, we have pollen, a powdery substance produced by flowers. It contains tiny grains that carry male gametes, or sperm cells. These grains have a protective coating and travel from the male to the female parts of plants. When they land on a compatible female structure, they grow a tube to transfer the sperm cells. If you watch closely enough, you will see that this makes sense. Cannot go into detail here. Spoiler alert! However, the longer you watch the better it gets. As the runtime is only 86 minutes, I believe you have to stick around to the end. This movie will not bore you. It also shows how horrible people can be. It's a warning that shows the serious issues of sexual assault, toxicity in the workplace, and trauma. Pollen amplifies the horrors that take place too often in corporate America and shows audiences these monsters in a very literal sense. The movie also showcases the talent of Ava Rose Kinard, making her remarkable feature film debut as the lead character Hera, brilliantly portraying both the joys of success and the depths of trauma. For those prepared for its intense subject matter, "Pollen" guarantees an unforgettable and impactful viewing experience. A very solid 7/10. And a strong recommendation to go and watch this movie and have patience.

I have a very big problem with this film. Its author mocks adult women with its portrayal of a vulnerable, unsecure and abused female character and I am a male myself. There's rape on the door steps already before entering the bedroom, which the main character sublimates into love. There's toxic and highly competitive corporate white-collar work climate that the female character, portrayed like a Kimmy Schmidt minus the charisma and the smile, must navigate but she constantly mistakes the working place for a mating habitat or a romantic medium, confounds males for trees, plants for men, evening dresses for work attire, even her own 'no' for 'yes'. Thre are constant breadcrumbs left for viewers to see who's who and what leads where, like for instance the used condom on the floor, the confession that the condom was both used and not used, from a man who assesses risk for a living. Since, judging by the place she works, the viewer must think of her as highly educated and long past puberty, the only explanation I came with, for the course of events and the 'story', others may not be necessarily be in agreement with, is that the film is either a mockery dressed up as a horror, a horror dressed up as a mockery or there's a mind behind it, itself troubled, who mistakes itself as creative. A poet armed with the wrong tools, a gardener with pots of weed instead of flowers. The horror atribute of this film refers to its perceived toxicity in viewers like myself. One of those films you watch because you're not smart and don't know better (I admit it) and neither did the filmmaker expect it. From me, even 1 star is undeserved.

This is an interesting little movie. It's an art film surrounded around sexual trauma and mental health, using the plant as a metaphor. That's at least what my interpretation is.

The lead actress is talented and portrays a young, confused and harmed woman with an ease that's hard to do honestly. Without her, the film wouldn't work as well. The office scenes are also pretty good, definitely laughed at a few of them for sure.

The plot is metaphoric and hard to really get a grip on, but it works in the end. Overall, a creative indie that I enjoyed. I miss working out of an office sometimes, so a little nostalgic for me. The other actors also did well. 6.2/10. Nice work!