The Apostate

As some of us know, "apostasy" or "an apostate" is a recognisable phrase that dates all the way back and means "somebody who has lost their faith" either in religion or in a cause etc.Throughout the centuries this has taken many different forms and I think it's safe to say that Director/Producer Andy Dodd has set a new tone for its meaning.

The story follows Lance, who wakes up in a 'rest-room' with no idea of who he is or how he got there. Flash-forward to a police interview room where inspector Andrews is interviewing him, trying to 'coax' out the truth.

This is when the movie takes a completely different twist than what you would expect out of an indie film of this ilk. The truths that come out during the course of the movie will shock you. This movie not only f**ks with your mind psychologically making you do double takes and shake your head in a mixture of disbelief and disgust while saying to yourself "You gotta be kidding me...really?!" but it also hits you right afterward with a good dose of blood and gore.

Why not a 10 you ask? Well that's mainly because to see a 10 usually sets off the alarms that a review has been submitted biased. Me, I enjoyed this film from beginning to end, as I love my psychologically disturbing films just as much as I love my torture gore movies...and the Apostate delivers a blissful combination of both. I am an opinionated curmudgeon, and ALWAYS have something negative to say about where an indie horror flick could have tightened up this or that, but at the end, every end was tied up, the conclusion was satisfying "now I know why Lance was in that damn room!" -it was easily the best indie horror film I have seen in the past few years. Zero budget - great inventiveness. Some of the digital effects were not great, but the practical effects looked real enough. It could do with a 'trim' at the beginning.

Jay Bryhan who plays Lance deserves a standing ovation and a projectile vomit or two for the fantastic performances he gives, which make the film as genuine as it is.

"Was Lance telling the truth?" is all I could think of when the movie ended. The Apostate takes you through a maze of craziness you'll be having flashbacks about the flashbacks for weeks afterward. Each turn takes the viewer down a different path. I questioned the mind of the writer when Lance eats somebody's stomach for dinner! What kind of sick depraved mind could come up with this stuff? The characters were believable, the gore was disgusting and this viewer was left wishing she'd gotten a "vomit bag" before the movie - oh the 'eye'! My 2 daughters are HUGE horror fans and they loved it. She has a collection of horror films so I know she must be just as sick as Andy Dodd who Directed and wrote this multi-layered horror film. It's too bad this isn't being released generally. Clever and slow-burning.

As in a recent review I did for 'Locke' - I mentioned I happened to see this movie at the same festival and, as with the other British indie 'Locke', I was transfixed for 80 odd minutes. While this doesn't hold the star power of the previously mentioned film (it does have Terri Dwyer in it and after a quick IMDb search, she is a Brit TV actor) the actors in the movie are strong and believable. Directer, Andy Dodd has written a sharp little movie (he also lens'd and edited it among other things) which keeps the viewer guessing until the end. Lance Cooper (Jay Bryhan) is a man who wakes up with no understanding of who he is or how he came to be there (there being a dingy bathroom in an underground car park) - Yes, the premise isn't original and it's a little 'SAW I' - but that didn't put me off (or anyone else watching, it would seem). What follow is a series of flashbacks and Police interviews with Lance and we slowly piece together the mystery. A film which keeps you guessing (and it does, and the revelation is unexpected) is always interesting as long as it doesn't treat the audience like 'fools' - this doesn't. It MAKES you want to know what happened. If I wanted to be critical, the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me - but it's a small criticism.

The story is a strong, emotional one filled with plenty of melodrama, suspense, and stark realism. "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" is a slow burning, fluid piece that tales Cooper's story in a serious of gritty, horrific flashbacks shrouded in mystery, all of which are framed around an interrogation upon Cooper being brought back to police headquarters. The cast give powerful, invoking performances that pull you into the film. There is a witty approach that attempts to mask the truth, giving view to both the reality of the evidence, and the reality of Lance Cooper's belief of events leading up to the truth.

The special effects used in "The Apostate" are practical, raw effects that give plenty of blood and gore. The flashback scenes offer up a bit of "Saw" styled grue that for the most part work perfectly. The atmosphere surrounding these affectual moments is one of true horror. They are on the cheaper side of indie budgeted effects, but due to careful choices by Cooper, and his team, all uses are believable. The soundtrack and music score are stripped down, expected instrumental tones and melodies that push the macabre of the story to chilling levels.

Overall "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" gives us a strong, indie true life crime in gory, dramatic honesty. Andy Cooper's directing shines as does the talents of the cast and crew bringing this nightmare to life. The story is captivating and the special effects are choice. There are moments when the effects-when shown straight on-look cheap. Very few moments but I would be remiss not to point them out. The beginning does move slowly so fans of high energy horror will be bored. The big reveal that gives us truth doesn't stay elusive beyond the 40 minute mark, and even before that there are hints to the truth visible. That of course is to all who are not familiar with the crimes in this film. "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" is, however, a worthy film that warrants watching.

First of all - this movie isn't going to win any Oscars. Let's get that out of the way. Secondly, it won't get a BAFTA for production design. If you haven't got any cash and you want to make a movie, what do you do? Well, you do what Andy Dodd did. Make one anyway. You don't need a lot of money to make something that keeps people intrigued.

Man wakes up. Man doesn't know who or where he is. Man needs to find out. That's the idea. Jay Bryhan, who plays the 'man', plays him with a lot of gusto and effort, even if he feels a little 'forced' occasionally. The story is told in flashbacks and to's and fro's between a police interview and the man trying to make sense of his surroundings. It's intriguing. It MAKES you want to know what the heel has happened. AND nothing prepares you for the second half of the film - I just didn't see it coming.

The Apostate is a low budget movie. But a pretty darn good film. I don't understand why this isn't on VOD or something - maybe that's to come.

Bravo.