Flesh of the Unforgiven

Flesh of the Unforgiven is an example of why I enjoy Independent horror. They tell interesting stories and present them in a unique way. They also are not afraid to create something that is for everyone. Joe Hollow makes the most out of his budget and manages to feature some of the most talented folks in the indie scene. Some of the aesthetics are due to the limitation in budget but it is made up for in the writing, direction and talent on screen. If you are a fan of any of the individuals in this film or of true indie horror then you should check this film out.

Flesh of the Unforgiven sure isn't your run-of-the-mill horror feature, it's a mood piece that moves at a leisurly speed to properly build up its story while having no problems veering off into the associative, the absurd, the grotesque and even the surreal should need arise, but ties up all neatly into a solid and actually pretty compelling piece of horror that thanks to a relatable backstory goes for more than just the jugular. And an on-point cast help to keep the thing earthed, all resulting in pretty awesome genre entertainment.

Joe Hollow's "Flesh of the Unforgiven" is a bold, gonzo horror delicacy that thrives on its bizarre, unconventional structure. While certain moments feel familiar, Hollow doesn't aim to reinvent the wheel; instead, he makes it uniquely his own, and it works beautifully. At times, it feels as though you're watching the work of a cinematic child born from David Lynch and Tim Burton-August Kyss embodies this perfectly.

Debbie Rochon and Joe Hollow deliver strong performances as a husband and wife at a crossroads in their dysfunctional marriage. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable and, in the world of independent horror, refreshingly rare. With a cinematography and sound that are nicely polished, the plot twists and turns keep you engaged until the very end.

The special effects may appear a bit dated at times, but there's a charm to them that feels like a nostalgic nod to the golden era of horror-a time that many fans still long for.

Overall "Flesh of the Unforgiven" is a fun, memorable ride that might just invite a second viewing.

The introduction sequence it really sets the tone of the film immediately. It's a great hook to pull the viewer in. The setting as the intro credits roll is a beautiful location, eerily creepy and isolated. The film starts with a couple, Sienna Russo (played by Debbie Rochon) and her husband Jack Russo (played by the director himself, Joe Hollow) as they arrive at their cottage in the snow, so that Jack can write his latest novel as he is suffering from writers block. Right away we can see there is tension in their marriage. After an explosive argument, Jack decides to drown his sorrows at the local bar. We are introduced to the friendly barman named Michael (played by John E. McLenachan) who is a cool character, with some great one-liners, he's a typical advice-giving bartender, and he is a good friend to the couple. We discover that Sienna has betrayed Jack in some way, and that he is finding it hard to forgive her.

We meet Vivienne (played by August Kyss) as she cries down the phone to her mother. It's an emotive scene. Then, a little later on we see her do something terrible to herself that made me gasp in shock. The situation turns demonic, adding a sinister element into the film. This is where we are introduced to the Death Dealer (also played by Joe Hollow) and what a frightening character this demonic entity is. The disturbing demonic voices really enhance the film in a dreadful way; the tormented giggles of a female voice, and the male demonic voice who is talking in an ancient language; both evoke terror to the viewer's senses. What I get and appreciate is that both of these stories run parallel to each other in an enthralling way. It feels like I'm watching two films at the same time. Both premises carry some sort of time limit, which goes hand in hand with what we saw in the intro sequence. Sienna is running out of time with her patience towards Jack, who himself is on a deadline for his book, and Vivienne who is on a time limit before she becomes Jezebel to Diablo. When a VHS tape turns up in the post with a label saying it's for inspiration, it engages the viewer's curiosity immediately.

I really enjoyed the nightmare sequences, they are well done, and immerses the viewer into the story and has some good revelations. The scenes with the Death Dealer as he cashes in on the deals people have made due to their actions, is a great sequence. We meet Livinia (played by Adriana Uchishiba) and she is a petrifying demon; she reminds me of the character Harley Quinn but even more deluded. Halfway through the film there is a flashback scene where we see a montage of images with Sienna and Jack in happier times, then it changes completely, making the viewer realise there is something wrong with this picture of tranquility. A lovely song about nightmares, demons and angels, plays through the scene that adds to the unease. It's a pivotal part of the film.

Jack watches the VHS tape while Sienna is out for a walk. It's more relevant to Jack's story than he would have liked. Interesting parallels! The content on the tape is deplorable to watch. The scene of love is pain; it is grueling and compelling at the same time. After yet another argument Jack hits the bar again. This time Jack bumps into someone there that turns the story in a horrendous way. Will Jack get his revenge? I enjoyed the tripping out on ecstasy scene, it's very dark and essentially pulls the story together in a captivating way.

The ending of the tape is basically the end sequence of the film, where secrets are revealed, some great resolutions happen to help us make sense of what has happened in the film. I like the themes, running against time, demons who want souls, forgiveness and making the right choices in life and what happens when you don't. We discover how Vivienne fits into the story, who Diablo is, and who the messed up in the head couple are who feature on the tape, and what their story is behind their appalling behaviour. We discover why Sienna ends up where she is, and who really sent the tape.

The ending is totally unexpected, and I did not see it coming to this twisted plot turn. Fabulously horrifying! Then to top it off another major twist occurs that left me breathless.

Overall, the scenes of horror are delivered in a fascinating way. The plot is solid and the storyline atrocious and unrelenting! The acting is great, believable, and they really put their all into their roles. The demonic scenes are great, and bone chilling. There are some great tones coming through, emotive, tormented souls, pain and love, death, and chaos. I have to commend the costumes and makeup, they are terrific. The cinematography is excellent, SOV filming in some shots, drone shots, irregular movement, and visceral closeup shots. The CGI didn't take away from the film, and the use of physical props worked well. I highly recommend this one to watch.

Reviewed by Del Gibson.

This film sucks. Seriously.

The people who have reviewed this highly must be either involved with the film somehow or paid to give a good review.

The acting is a joke and Joe Hollow looks and sounds ridiculous as the "Death Dealer".

Not a single one of them, even Debbie Rochon seem to care about the film and phone their performances in. Well, maybe Hollow cares considering he tries way too hard.

I have no idea how this guy has won so many awards unless he's handed them to himself or his earlier movies are much better.

Avoid this trash. Trust me. An hour in feels like an eternity of hell if hell was boring.