Where Is She?

I can see what the makers were going for here, a sort of deep and arty film. But it fails miserably. I'll give it two stars for the atmosphere and the nice stage set, but it lacks a decent story and most of the time it makes no sense. This was probably deliberate to make it more enigmatic. But it's mostly a lot of not much going on, and even what does go on is shot so darkly that it's makes even harder to make sense of. I think it has some Kafkaesque meaning about creating our own private hell or something, but it didn't hold my interest enough for me to want to think too deeply about it.

It starts okay: A couple with the brains of an ameba and a young annoying girl trick or treater, who likes making masks. Interesting enough but, then it goes artsy and loses all semblance of reality, in a bad way. Lots of potential wasted. Reminds me of movies from the 60's made by guys on a psychedelic trip. I'm way too old to want to go back there.

In just 46 minutes with a tiny cast and a single small location, creator Jerry Woods delivers a story that resonated beyond the credits. The stark and claustrophobic setting, lit with the atmospheric glow of kerosene lanterns, supports a plot that revels in twists and loops to create a mind-messing experience. It begins with an almost banal set-up: Long-married couple takes a vacation in a rustic cabin. Then Reality takes a hike shortly after a young girl comes trick or treating. And never returns. The performances are solid and the flaws so minor as to pass right on by; a fright shot too quick for impact, shadows very briefly a little too thick, a reveal telegraphed. Not even these minor flaws exist in the soundtrack. The sound is layered in, subtly enhancing the visuals without distracting from them and the score crawls up your spine and lodges in the lizard brain where primitive fear lives. Mention must be made of the masks manifested by Dan Flanders. There are several but it is as if one is morphing into another. Collectively, they are a fourth main character and have much to tell. Jerry Woods has tapped into something that flows beneath rational thought and has such a deft and confident touch, I believe he could make a sunlit 4th of July parade a horror show.

The conversations had after this movie were great. The storyline leaves you thinking while the audio and visual production draws you in. I would be interested in watching it a few more times to pick up on some more of the little details I'm sure I missed on my first viewing.

This film has trash acting and cinematography, yes. But it also has the weirdest script I've ever seen played out in my entire life, and I'm pretty accomplished at finding weird, awful movies (Tubi TV makes it so easy!). This one takes the cake for being the weirdest I've ever experienced... and I kind of dig it. I've watched it at least four times now- I feel like it's boring into my soul.

The set dressing is actually kind of unsettling and the music sometimes drives that feeling also. I can't even tell you what this is really about. The filmmaker meant for it to be metaphoric, something that's shoved down your throat throughout the film, but what he means by the dialogue, I have no clue. I think it could be a metaphor for hell, but there are bizarre details that make zero sense and I can't stop trying to make sense of it.

If you like weird, unsettling films that make no sense, this is a must-see. Unfortunately, not many people like films that look like they were shot in VHS, so I don't see this doing numbers.