Review: New horror feature ‘Abject’ throws everything at the wall. Does anything stick?

David R. Williams Newest Horror Feature Film 

ABJECT

A year after the death of their only child, a couple journey to an isolated retreat to try and work through their grief and save their disintegrating relationship. There however the Wife experiences strange visions and horrific dreams. The Husband sinks deeper into an alcoholic daze. Violence erupts, But death is only the beginning of their torment.


The film begins with the definitions of the words Psychotic, Psychosis, and Abject. What serves as both a jarring opening and inevitable title card is striking. After that, ABJECT is a painfully slow descent akin to watching bad theater. Performances feel forced. Close-ups of Joe Gallagher washing knives are overkill. Did they use an entire set of knives making dinner? Certainly not. Juxtapose that with Helena Simon in a red-lit bathroom hearing voices, losing her shit, and it all feels nonsensical, disjointed, and inconsistent in the end. Dreamlike sexual scenarios had me scratching my head. The tropes are unnecessary. Listen, props to Simon for going all in as the sheer absurdity ramps up. Unfortunately, it all lands as rather silly.

Helena Simon

Gallagher‘s character is described as an alcoholic, yet there is no consistent sign of this behavior other than offering his wife a drink, which she twice refuses. His character is a complete asshole. Most of his interactions with his wife feel unjustified. After an intense, albeit over-the-top, confrontation in the third act, there is an incredibly accosting moment. Let that serve as a trigger warning for viewers.

Here’s what works best in ABJECT. I could not have exclaimed WTF more times while shaking my head as I sat through the film. Those are the moments you count on and make you a genre fan. An unexpected twist in the form of a two-and-a-half-minute monologue blows everything sky high. The final reveal is undoubtedly intriguing. Unfortunately, the rest of the film’s shenanigans don’t add up. All said and done, as a feature film, it is a letdown. But, if you took a scalpal to the script, you’d have one genuinely slick short.

ABJECT is now available to rent NOW on Amazon Prime, VUDU, Flixfling, and Blu-Ray 

 

Release Date: July 28, 2002

Run Time: 1Hr 15 MIN

Produced by

David R. Williams for Razor Wire Alchemy

Directed by David R. Williams

Starring Helena Simon, Joe Gallagher, Andy Rich, Clementine Jane Simpson

Written by David R. Williams, Constanza Bongiorni, Music by Frederic Mauerhofer, Stephen Rosenthal, Special makeup effects by Roy Knyrim/SOTA FX


 

Review: ‘Rust Belt Driller’ opens Midnight series at Dances With Films.

DWF21

headling the Midnight series is

Rust Belt Driller

Renn Maxwell seems to have everything going for him. He has a manager that cares, he’s good enough at his craft (visual art) to have private gallery screenings. He seems to live in a nice looking house and he has a committed, streetwise, and beautiful partner in Carol. But Renn has been followed all his life by something dark. And now with the chaos of the modern world, and his own inner horrors, that evil has finally gotten close enough to reach out and touch. What follows in the next few days will pain the city of Buffalo, NY a whole new canvas, mostly flowing red.


Rust Belt Driller is the epitome of a midnight movie. It’s a celebration of gross practical FX, borderline annoying and meta infomercials, and a bent reality between art and life. The editing is jarring as hell. Be prepared to jump from the varying levels in audio decibels. There’s some really solid camera work, as well. The saturation levels in the color correction throw your brain off-kilter. But this stylistic decision makes an impact. There are definitely moments that could use editing for time. A few stares that last too long would benefit from hitting the cutting room floor.

Of all the performances, I have to mention one standout from the crowd. Mary Coleman as The Homeless Woman was really great. As I watched her short monologue, I audibly said, “Wow, she’s really good.” So, shout out to Miss Coleman. Screenwriter and star Aaron Krygier as Renn is pretty spectacular. His commitment is what sells this entire idea. Am I suggesting you watch this while on some sort of drug? I’m not not suggesting that. Rust Belt Driller is a psychosexual horror from some seriously disturbed minds. While I may not exactly understand the ending, I have to applaud the ingenuity and unadulterated balls it took to make this film.


Rust Belt Driller is a feature Horror film that is headlining the Midnight series on August 27, 2021, at 11:55 PM at Dances with Films at the Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Dances With Films LA runs from August 26th to September 12th. You can find out more info at https://danceswithfilms.com/home-2021/