Monday, November 21, 2011

The Reeds and Seeing Your Death Looking Back at You: A Movie Review

*here be spoilers.

Director: Nick Cohen.

Writers: Mark Anthony Galluzzo and Chris Baker.

This review is going back a little to After Dark Horrorfest's 2010 lineup which included The Reeds. This is a film that sees several friends boating around the United Kingdom in tragic fashion. This weekender involves exploding propane tanks, vicious burns and gory impalements. Most would classify this title a horror film, but the film goes a little deeper than that into history and into tragedy.

Laura (Anna Brewster), Joe (Daniel Caltagirone), Mel (Emma Catherwood), Nick (O.T. Fagbenle) and Chris (Will Mellor) head out on a boat rented to them by Mr. Croker (George Bell). Quickly, they become lost in head height reeds, until there is a light in the distance. That light is firelight and burning is Mr. Croker's dog. This is some foreshadowing for events to come as several cast members will meet a similar fiery fate. Now hooked on a metal spike, the boat lists while the characters hallucinate strange and horrifying images. A tragic play is taking place along the moors of which none will escape.

Whenever a film is dealing with curses that is a pretty strong sign that the film's genre is one of tragedy rather than just simple horror. Marketers will not classify films according to tragedy, but this style of filmmaking exists nonetheless. Beginning in Greece, tragedy includes being trapped in events. In The Reeds, the six friends are trapped in the curse of the moors which holds them there for eternity. There is no escaping pre-destiny as some of these friends have already seen their deaths before they have even happened. And in tragedy, terrifying events take place. While this is no Oedipus the King, there are some brutal sequences taking place. A woman trapped in a pool of water is one and seeing her face burned away later is equally terrifying.

There are some gory scenes in this film, but this film is not centrally out to scare directly. Instead, the appearances of ghosts and recurring events signals that there is something more going on in the reeds than the writers will make known immediately. And Mr. Crocker's appearance in the final scenes shows that only revenge, a tragic element, will release his spirit from this haunted locale. To be innocent and seeking fun is a noble and enjoyable goal. However, none of these characters will be returning to their lives as the curse of the moors adds their bodies to an already large heap. And with curses, there is always another tragedy around the next corner.

The Reeds has mostly received poor reviews. Yet, this horror film fan enjoyed the film and the tragic situations therein. Sometimes hard to watch, the appearance of ghosts, foreshadowing of characters' deaths and terrifying events shows that writers Mark Anthony Galluzzo and Chris Baker have a good understanding of horror but an even better one of tragedy. See this film late at night for a truly terrifying time.

Overall: 7.75 (lots of tension, some mysterious elements, and a good ending).

The film's homepage:

The Reeds at After Dark Horrorfest

 |  |  | 

Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA

Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis Email Subscription

0 comments: