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Review: ‘VINDICTA’ is more convoluted than clever.

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VINDICTA

Between violent protesters and a serial killer on the loose, Sean McNamara‘s VINDICTA is a tale of revenge that leaves a trail of bodies and plenty of deja vu.

Following the death of her mother and in her father’s footsteps, Lou dreams of becoming a firefighter EMT. On her first night on the job, things go haywire when she and her colleagues become the targets of a killer.

Jeremy Piven plays Lou’s super supportive father, Patrick. But his past puts his daughter in direct sight of the killer. Piven is fantastic. He is a master at his craft, no doubt. Elena Kampouris plays Lou with a solid balance of unresolved trauma and tenacity. She does her best within the convoluted premise to keep us emotionally invested. She deserved to show off more of her physical badassery. I could see her owning a post-apocalyptic role with ease. The film’s best scenes are the climatic mano-a-mano battles.

It is not an exaggeration to say I yelled, “Oh Shit,” following the first kill. I must hand it to McNamara here, as each is different and brutal. However, the film has an overreaching Saw (in its superfluous middle sequels) vibe, both in its performances and overly complicated premise. The killer wears a David mask and scrawls Latin phrases on the walls, placing sporadic traps and puzzles, which culminates in a need to, quite literally, explain the motive. VINDICTA is sort of an amalgamation of past films. Watch it for Kampouris, but a sequel should not be entertained.

In Select Theatres and Available to Buy On Digital
October 6, 2023

DIRECTED BY: Sean McNamara

STORY BY: Steven Paul

SCREENPLAY BY: Ian Neligh

STARRING: Elena Kampouris, Sean Astin and Jeremy Piven

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Scott Karol and Charles Cooper

PRODUCED BY: Steven Paul

DISTRIBUTED BY: Paramount Global Content Distribution

GENRE: Horror, Thriller

RATING: R for violence and gore, language and brief drug material

SYNOPSIS:
When a city is terrorized by a sadistic serial killer, a seasoned detective and a newly recruited paramedic are forced into a deadly game of vengeance, only to discover the key to stopping the bloodshed lies in unlocking the truth of their own haunted pasts. Elena Kampouris (Children of the Corn), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings franchise), and Jeremy Piven (Entourage) star in this edge-of-your-seat thriller from the director of On a Wing and a Prayer.

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Review: Jacqueline Castel’s ‘MY ANIMAL’ is the small-town sapphic monster movie we all needed.

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MY ANIMAL

Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, falls for newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within.

Jacqueline Castel gives us an incredibly nuanced and modern twist on the classic monster movie.  Heather is already a loner, with small-town gossip labeling her damaged goods based on her mother’s alcoholism. The film opens with a fantastic backstory of that scenario. One of the most intriguing aspects of the family dynamic has to be the calm acceptance of the curse but the loathsome attitude towards Heather’s sexuality. This clever dichotomy deepens our emotional investment in her happiness. MY ANIMAL transfixes with an almost slow-burn feel and the lack of gore. 

Stephen McHattie, a genre legend, plays Heather’s dedicated father, Henry. He is genuinely caring, encouraging, and a brilliant addition to this film. It’s a lovely turn. Amandla Stenberg plays Jonny with a fiery energy. She has an effortlessly commanding presence. Bobbi Salvör Menuez gives Heather award-worthy vulnerability. They bring fearless intention from beginning to end. Their chemistry with Stenberg is organic, keeping the audience emotionally invested.

Augustus Muller‘s synth-heavy score serves a dual purpose in establishing the period and eliciting an ominous horror vibe. The constant presence of red gel lighting and the handheld camerawork are hypnotizing. The film has one of the most erotic and masterfully crafted love scenes. Bravo to intimacy coordinator Mimi Côté. MY ANIMAL is a slick metaphor for the isolation and ostracization of small-town LGBTQIA+ individuals. Horror elements aside, being different might feel like a curse some days. MY ANIMAL shows the power of owning one’s individuality.

MY ANIMAL is in select Theaters on September 8, 2023 and on Digital September 15, 2023.


DIRECTED BY: Jacqueline Castel
WRITTEN BY: Jae Matthews
PRODUCED BY: Andrew Bronfman, Michael Solomon
CAST: Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie & Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott and Stephen McHattie

SYNOPSIS: Bobbi Salvör Menuez (Euphoria) and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) ignite in this genre-bending supernatural love story. Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.


RUN TIME: 103 minutes
RATING: R for language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence
GENRE: Horror, Romance
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Global Content Distribution