Freelance

Freelance is an indie gem waiting to be unearthed, with a standout lead performance and a confident director at the helm.

It's a dark, suspenseful thriller, with moments of genuine unease and alarm, as a video editor goes down a grim path when she accepts a mysterious new job opportunity - cutting snuff films.

The corruption of the protagonist, Katie, has echoes of Toby Jones' Gilderoy in the Peter Strickland's excellent film Berberian Sound Studio, in which a foley artist gets hired to create a soundscape for a Giallo film.

Mike Gerbino's tense script is masterfully transplanted to Melbourne by director John Belazs, who's love of the material is evident in his assured, sharp direction.

Katie was a compelling lead, and Nicole Pastor's performance was the film's standout rough around the edges, and authentic, and again - just a terrific anchor performance that gave the other actors, as well as the cinematography and direction, a solid foundation. She was relatable, even if her choices became more and more disquieting as she was sucked into the rabbit hole of snuff films. Pastor's performance richly portrays the slow, crushing degradation the events of the film has on Katie, as layer upon layer of her character's soul is peeled away and her desperation becomes all the more vivid.

Here, a small cast was an advantage, adding the growing claustrophobia of Katie's world. The times she does venture out beyond her close circle there's not much help to be found. Supporting actor Jordan Fraser-Trumble had a key role, and gave a stellar performance, ensuring one of the film's most important moments has the weight it deserves.

The plot was always engaging as it delved into a dark subject matter. There were twists and reveals, and a great scene towards the finale reminiscent of the basement scene in Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

The film has a gritty, grounded quality that was grungy and potent, with costumes, sets and locations that felt genuinely lived-in. Melbourne itself became a character, the four walls of Katie's apartment felt constricting as the film went on.

David Chan's cinematography was tight and engaging, handling moments of stark silhouettes to scenes where colours popped with consummate ease. Many horror/thriller films can lean too much into a dark, desaturated look, it was refreshing for a psychological thriller to embrace colour at the right moments. The use of focus shifting too was particularly effective.

Freelance takes its audience on an unsettling journey, thanks to razor-sharp direction and a hauntingly raw performance by Nicole Pastor, it's a slow-burn thriller that transforms its low-budget constraints into an asset, creating a claustrophobic world that feels all too real. A must-watch for indie lovers or those looking for psychological horror with a dash of spice.

It wasn't really my cup of tea, judging by the other reviews I may be a minority here. In all honesty, I would probably put it close to 'smiley' in the horror film rankings.

The main character is very hard to like. She has the personality of an angsty teenager, always seems to have this 'if you cant handle me at my worst, screw you' mentality. Every decision is like watching a child make it, maybe if I scream at my landlord when im several months behind on rent things will work out, maybe if I take this strangers thousands of dollars and do what he says for 1 night its perfectly legal.

The 'twist' was overhyped in my opinion, by like 30 or 40 mins in you can get a pretty good feel for where the story is heading, and how its most probably going to end.

John Balazs' Freelance is a remarkable achievement in independent filmmaking-a bold, stylish, and deeply atmospheric psychological thriller. As someone who understands the challenges of indie productions, it's inspiring to see a film so meticulously crafted, with no evidence of the usual budget-driven compromises in production or performance. Instead, Freelance feels highly polished, confidently standing among psychological thrillers while carving out its own unique identity.

At the centre of this film is Nicole Pastor's unforgettable performance as Katie, a video editor whose descent into obsession and paranoia is as mesmerising as it is chilling. Nicole brings incredible nuance to the role, layering her performance with subtle touches that mirror Katie's unraveling state of mind. Even small details-like Katie's haircut, symbolising her fractured psyche-feel deliberate and poignant. What impressed me most was Nicole's ability to navigate Katie's slow descent, sprinkling in moments of vulnerability and obsession before plunging the audience into the chaos of her madness.

The film is also a testament to the creative vision of John Balazs. The cinematography, lighting, and sound design create a palpable tension throughout, pulling the audience deeper into Katie's fractured world. Influences like David Fincher's precision and the vivid stylisation of The Neon Demon can be felt, yet Freelance maintains its own voice, refusing to feel derivative.

Independent filmmaking is often a delicate balancing act, with limited resources making it difficult to achieve the full scope of a director's vision. But with Freelance, John Balazs and his team have crafted a film that feels rich, cohesive, and uncompromising in its ambition. Huge congratulations to Nicole, John, and the entire cast and crew for creating something truly special. It's a reminder of what's possible when passion and talent converge-and I, for one, can't wait to see what comes next from this team.

Went in expecting to take a familiar stroll into the murder-for-viewing-pleasure world of snuff films, led by a couple incompetent filmmakers, with the inevitable line, "Snuff films? Come on man, those aren't real haha" (contrary to the endless amount of videos floating around the dark corners of the internet featuring people murdering each other). But Freelance was one of the very rare, pleasant surprises.

Checks all the technical boxes, competently shot, solid performance by the lead, pretty tight script, and some genuinely creepy sequences and effective scares

Unfortunately, if you think about the plot for more than 60 seconds, not much of what's happening actually makes sense

We have a group entrepreneurial murderers running some sort of on-demand, homicidal Hulu. These enterprising young men are capable of literally getting away with murder and distributing the content, yet they outsource video editing... to a total stranger?

Besides the fact this creates an unnecessary mountain of digital evidence, I'm prett confident I could post an on Craigslist and have an actual serial killer edit a video for me within the hour.

Also, the plot device that removes law enforcement from the equation is so low effort, it's practically is a parody of itself

All that being said, there's lot to appreciate here. If youre looking for something genuinely creepy, a little more on the twisted side (and able the look past the nonsensical business model of our ambitious young psychopaths), this should be at the front of the line.

Freelance is an expertly crafted thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. From the first scene to the credits, the film maintains a level of suspense that is hard to come by these days. What truly stands out, though, is Nicole Pastor's amazing performance as Katie. She embodies her character with such depth and intensity that you feel completely immersed in her world. Every choice she makes feels authentic, and her journey is both captivating and emotionally charged. The film as a whole reminded me of a Steven Soderbergh movie. The combination of high-stakes action, psychological tension, and exceptional performances makes Freelance a must-watch. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well-executed thriller.