I'm curious as to why so many people were so fiercely critical of this film, but I liked it quite a bit.
The title hints at how broadly the term 'horror' might be applied throughout a single movie. Some might consider it a parody, or a grim look at the dangers of bullying, but I feel like it is a more comprehensive critique of modern, 21st century self-obsessions and distractions. The style and pacing kept me engaged, and the acting is very self-aware, I'm left wondering how much of the scenes were improvised. It brought to mind Ryan Trecartin's I-BE Area, which is another, more insanely fever-pitched film...
The story focuses on a group of 12 year old girls, sometimes viewed through the predatory lens of a hand-held camera or cell phone, as they hang out together in a big empty mansion. It seems like almost every single line in the film is a sneer, a taunt, an insult, or some other form of abuse. Most of the expository elements are merely suggested, but the vicious behavior of these girls escalates into a few gruesome scenes. I must admit I had a sense of gleeful anticipation in imagining just how these brats might bite the dust. Nearly every character is unlikable, so this movie is a treat for a true horror fan, and could be a frustrating 100 minutes for someone who expects to sympathize with a strong lead.
Millennials might also cringe at the use of cell phones, snapchats, and text bubbles, but maybe that's because the obnoxiousness of these characters is so eerily familiar...taking selfies and pretending to have a good time. If you were raised by a smartphone, how would you function without it? Then the better question: How do you function with it? Maybe you're already asking that question, so this film provides a poignant interpretation of a world in which technology and other privileges motivate people to seek control through pettiness while they feel forced to change their own values constantly.
I thought this movie has a lot of content to re-investigate, its manic effect haunted me for a few days. I would definitely watch it again. Not for the weak, a high tolerance for awful little girls is required. It's an absurd social commentary with slasher elements and a strange, gorgeous setting. Give this film a chance...there's a wonderful, jaw-dropping music video nestled in the middle of the madness ...
Kudos to the director and cast of #Horror
The title hints at how broadly the term 'horror' might be applied throughout a single movie. Some might consider it a parody, or a grim look at the dangers of bullying, but I feel like it is a more comprehensive critique of modern, 21st century self-obsessions and distractions. The style and pacing kept me engaged, and the acting is very self-aware, I'm left wondering how much of the scenes were improvised. It brought to mind Ryan Trecartin's I-BE Area, which is another, more insanely fever-pitched film...
The story focuses on a group of 12 year old girls, sometimes viewed through the predatory lens of a hand-held camera or cell phone, as they hang out together in a big empty mansion. It seems like almost every single line in the film is a sneer, a taunt, an insult, or some other form of abuse. Most of the expository elements are merely suggested, but the vicious behavior of these girls escalates into a few gruesome scenes. I must admit I had a sense of gleeful anticipation in imagining just how these brats might bite the dust. Nearly every character is unlikable, so this movie is a treat for a true horror fan, and could be a frustrating 100 minutes for someone who expects to sympathize with a strong lead.
Millennials might also cringe at the use of cell phones, snapchats, and text bubbles, but maybe that's because the obnoxiousness of these characters is so eerily familiar...taking selfies and pretending to have a good time. If you were raised by a smartphone, how would you function without it? Then the better question: How do you function with it? Maybe you're already asking that question, so this film provides a poignant interpretation of a world in which technology and other privileges motivate people to seek control through pettiness while they feel forced to change their own values constantly.
I thought this movie has a lot of content to re-investigate, its manic effect haunted me for a few days. I would definitely watch it again. Not for the weak, a high tolerance for awful little girls is required. It's an absurd social commentary with slasher elements and a strange, gorgeous setting. Give this film a chance...there's a wonderful, jaw-dropping music video nestled in the middle of the madness ...
Kudos to the director and cast of #Horror