Throughout history, there have been all kinds of stories
dealing with mysterious killers. Some of which still have not been named or
captured and have lived in infamy for their obscene crimes. For horror films,
the horror genre has made use of these stories to give viewers a better
understanding how things went down. Whether certain liberties were taken with
the material varies, but it's how the film makes the viewers feel after coming
out is what matters. Several horror films rely more on gore and violence when
really a movie with the exact opposite in traits can be just as terrifying.
This is exactly what happens in this movie, which at first felt like it was
going to be a by the numbers killing type horror film, when really, it wasn't
at all. Prepare to feel the most restrained you've ever felt in some time.
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| Maddie |
The story to this killer thriller is about Maddie (Kate
Siegel), an author of a popular book. Hoping to strike gold and create another
great novel, she continues to write in her home on her own. What may not be
evident is the fact that she is mute and deaf. The only way she communicates is
through sign language and mouthing words. She has a few friends but none that
live with her on a constant basis. Unfortunately for her, a stalker (John
Gallagher Jr.) discovers her house and realizes she has these disabilities.
With that said he decides it would be great to slowly mentally torture her.
Written and directed Mike Flanagan, this movie is one of the more taught ones
shown in a while. Since much of the story revolves around these two, the
development only happens here. Much of it is placed on Maddie, who goes through
several strategies on how to escape the evil that has fallen on her.
The weakest link is actually the killer because nothing is
really explained about him. The character name is just called "the
man", and that's fine. Not every psycho has to have a name, it makes it
all the more creepy. However, having no reason for the motivation of killing is
something else. This is exactly the problem with Gallagher's role. He has no
rationale as to why he's doing what he's doing. That doesn't mean he has to
have a connection to Siegel's character either. But there must be something
that is making this guy do what he's doing. Yet this part is overshadowed as to
just how creative the heroine lead becomes when she realizes she's starting to
run out of options. That's where things become so white-knuckled, it becomes too
difficult to just sit and watch. Some viewers may feel the need to
retroactively try and yell recommendations to the screen. As if the individuals
on screen could hear.
Kate Siegel as Maddie does a great job. She truly makes a
viewer believe everything she goes through. And as cliché as it is to have a
female lead in a horror film, she deserves this one. Siegel has been in other
productions prior but this would be her breakout role. It's truly impressive to
watch this film unfold because of how well it was directed. Normally writer
directors have tough times producing adequate films because the task of doing
both isn't easy. However being that this was a small production, this might've
lessened the burden. Flanagan was also the director to movies like Oculus
(2013), Before I Wake (2016), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) and Gerald's Game
(2017). Being that these movies have all had mainly positive praise, this shows
Flanagan has a knack for the genre. This goes hand in hand with the tension
delivered. Much of the execution remains silent to make the viewer feel like
Maddie, which helps a lot. In some ways it reminisces to that of James Wan's
Dead Silence (2007).
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| "The Man" killer |
Camerawork was well put together too. James Kniest was the
director of photography to this feature. Even though the overall setting
changes very little, Kniest manages to find ways of showing every inch and
crack of the house Maddie lives in. Kniest worked on other movies like Annabelle
(2014), Within (2016) and The Bye Bye Man (2017). Adding to that is the
violence that occurs throughout the running time. There's not a lot of gore,
but what is shown still can get pretty gnarly. Some of it can really make a
viewer cringe. Sadly this could also be said for film score. Composed by a duo
who go by the Newton Brothers, the music to this movie isn't that impressive.
It is understandable as to why it isn't heard much, but when it is used, it's
not ultimately that complex. Thankfully it has no jump stings, but the organics
of it does not blend with the visuals and comes off rather forgettable. Even if
they worked with director Flanagan before.
Points Earned --> 7:10
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