Pollen

I think this was written by a first year women's studies student, and not a good one. The main character is an extremely emotionally immature woman, who mistakes the work place for a mating habitat and proceeds to be taken advantage of by her stereotypical "bad-misogynist" boss. She has a fellow female co-worker who takes part in mocking her as if this is a middle school lunch room, rather than a professional work place. She then proceeds to confuse reality with horticulture, having dreams of plant monsters and a slew of non-scary attempts at being a horror film.

In the end, it's very sophomoric and not scary. If I was Miss Smith's eight grade drama teacher, I'd tell her to try harder and focus less on the made up stereotypes in her head, and more on making character real.

Yes, it's that bad; like an after school special that's not close to being special. Whoever writes this trash should be a gardener themselves, because movie making just doesn't suit you. That's not a glass ceiling, that's a concrete reinforced bunker. Find a new career.

Honestly I didn't understand what I was watching. But what I think in the end, this may have just a been very unique way of telling a story about a young new hire junior analyst female being taking advantage of by her male coworker sexually who happened to be the veep and her boss and after being duped and dumped by him harbors repressed feelings of hurt in the form of a conjured up tree monster that causes her to come unhinged because she didn't know how to deal with those repressed feelings. At first I wasn't really sure what to make of the story because it started of odd, became more interesting, went full on crazy and then calmed itself back down to being a comprehensive thought out story. A one time watch, toss when finish.

An innocent young woman, who has recently landed her dream job, gets roped into a toxic sexual relationship with a senior coworker.

As a result of the trauma she endures from the relationship, she ends up in a particularly fragile mental state.

During which she takes on a pot of flowers- given to her, as a gift, by the man- as her best friend, and confidant.

Only for it to become a monstrous beast, that torments her both in waking life, and her nightmares.

She uses the flowers as a stand in for the partner she wants him to be.

But it's quite clear, they have taken on the toxic form of his actual personality.

At least in the back of her mind.

Though, the lines between the real and psychological are blurred by a series of synchronicities she experiences through her niece.

Forcing her into a state of cognitive dissonance...that causes her to question reality.

And puts her at risk of losing her job.

The whole scenario acts as a metaphor for rejection.

Particularly how such an experience can affect empathetic individuals, like Hera, here.

Encouraging them to retain a connection to toxic aspects of their life, despite the fact that they are destroying them, from the inside out.

Making the monster she sees, a projection of her own mental state.

As she spirals toward delusion, as a result of the trauma she has endured.

An experience that is exacerbated, amidst the pressure of trying to make it, in a fast paced environment, where the men around her are continuously trying to exploit her (in order to satiate their own lustful desires).

All of which gives the film an air of dark humour...despite the rather serious subject matter it seeks to confront.

In regards to how being rejected by someone, only acts to make us, as humans, seek their approval, even more.

Often times, to the detriment of the more healthy relationships in our lives.

Of course, Hera is not the monster here (as if that even needs to be said).

The only monsters are those who use their positions of power over her to exploit her innocence.

Leaving a broken girl, in their wake...where a proud young woman, full of potential, once stood.

Making this a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, and hanging on to toxic relationships.

With a welcome ending, to a clearly tragic tale.

To cap off, what is a great little indie film.

In which a symbol of torment, is subverted into a symbol of empowerment.

A solid freshman feature from writer/director D. W. Medoff.

With a great performance by Ava Rose Kinard.

Talk about synchronicity...

6.5 out of 10.

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!

"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.