Beyond Your Consciousness: The Beginning

This is a low-budget independent film featuring up-and-coming talent. It's a story about Amanda, whose new house may have a dark past. Sound familiar? Perhaps, but the plot remains fresh because nothing is simple or predictable. That's because Amanda is neither simple nor predictable. Slow-build requires patience, but the rising action held my interest, and the ultimate climax was very satisfying. I appreciated that the horror/terror is less tangible, more in the mind. Too many movies show too much, where this allows the viewer to imagine and draw our own conclusions. Smart, well-acted film is worth checking out!

"Beyond Your Consciousness - The Beginning" is not your typical ghost story, and I appreciate the attempt by Rinoj Varghese.

The film starts with Amanda, a psychiatrist played by Jen Ayer Drake, and her husband George, played by Marcus Lawrence, moving into a beautiful Victorian home with colorful yet slightly eerie stained glass windows, all in an attempt to start a new life. George wants Amanda to move on from her unfortunate miscarriage and thinks the new home would allow her to do that, but unfortunately, she starts to see a ghostly energy and a strange woman who seems to linger outside their home.

Amanda decides to see patients in her home and deals with a really interesting case of a girl who's under the impression she's being terrorized by a ghost at night. When under hypnosis, the girl reveals what I take as foreshadowing and sets the tone for what Amanda is going through. Amanda talks to what she thinks is a spirit living in the house, trying to warn her of a kidnapping, thrusting her into action to save a little girl.

There are some bizarre things and unusual encounters, which I partially like. I enjoy a little weirdness in my films, and one of the characters was perfectly odd. Things are not what they seem, and it's all unraveled in what you think is the conclusion you may have guessed, but guess again. It's not that simple.

I like watching low-budget films because they're rough around the edges and more raw than perfectly polished Hollywood movies that have inflated budgets to play with. I enjoy watching how filmmakers deal with wearing many hats and still find a way to tell a story.

This version corrects grammar issues and improves clarity while retaining the original meaning and details.

"Beyond Your Consciousness" is a psychological thriller in the mold of 1970's Brian DePalma. Story begins with psychiatrist Amanda, portrayed by Jen Ayer Drake, treating a teenage patient suffering from supernatural trauma. From here story shifts to Amanda's new home, but soon after, mysterious presences reach out to her. Lead actress Jen Ayer Drake does a great job navigating the emotional ups and downs of this character as she seems to descend into madness. There are many supernatural/horror elements that emerge, things that go bump in the night, and ghostly voices/apparitions. Our own sense of reality is challenged. I really enjoyed this movie. It's technically well-made, and worth checking out if you want a good supernatural thriller with a surprise ending.

"Beyond Your Consciousness: The Beginning" is a psychological thriller that dives into themes of psychosis and gaslighting, leaving the audience questioning what is real. Jen Ayer Drake shines in her role as Amanda, a psychiatrist who begins to experience eerie and unexplained events in her new home. Drake's performance is compelling, capturing Amanda's emotional journey as she navigates these disturbing occurrences. It starts with Amanda treating a teenage patient who has experienced supernatural trauma, and then shifts to Amanda's own unsettling experiences. This seamless transition kept me engaged til the end and I truly enjoyed this movie.

Impressive thriller reminds me of 1970s-era horror - in a good way! ROSEMARY'S BABY comes to mind as the story's central character (Amanda) fights for her sanity and soul. It's a world where supernatural forces lurk around every corner and the audience never knows the real truth - if such a thing exists. I like movies that this - provocative and conversation starters. The film does a great job building suspense and even has a few jump scares. Well-written script gives the actors a lot to do - and a few memorable lines! Overall, I enjoyed this film. It's modest and tight, and way more enjoyable than so many big budget Hollywood horror movies.