These Holy Ghost People Have Something to Hide: A Movie Review

Director: Mitchell Altieri.

Writers: Kevin Artigue, Joe Egender, Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores.

Cast: Emma Greenwell, Joe Egender, Brendan McCarthy, Cameron Richardson and Don Harvey.

Holy Ghost People is a dramatic thriller from the Butcher Brothers: Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores. Mostly known for their horror features, the Butcher Bros. have created a spiritual thriller in their latest title. Holy Ghost People is primarily told through the eyes of Charlotte (Emma Greenwell) and her search for her sister, Liz. Charlotte's obvious strength and vulnerability create a complex character as director Altieri captures all of the tension onscreen in a compelling manner. Holy Ghost People is one of the best small thrillers this film fan has seen so far this year.

The story for the film involves Charlotte's search for her drug-addicted sister, Liz. Liz was last seen heading for the Church of the One Accord. So, Charlotte enlists the help of an ex-Marine, Wayne (Brendan McCarthy), to help her find Liz. Wayne has his own problems, including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, but he is able to guide Charlotte to the truth of Liz's whereabouts. The truth is not revealed until late in the film. By this time, the preacher Billy (Joe Egender) has slithered his way into the hearts of many of the characters onscreen. A confrontation between Wayne and Billy is one of the better showdowns in film.

Actor Joe Egender Plays Billy, the preacher.

Holy Ghost People is centrally a dramatic thriller, in genre. The focus of the story is building tension and utilizing mystery to keep events and possible answers uncertain. Neither Billy nor Charlotte are telling the truth about Liz and this lying leads to much of the conflict in the film. As well, each character has their own challenges to overcome. Wayne is dealing with memories of warfare. Charlotte is trying to resolve her childhood trauma, the early death of ther mother. And, Billy is doing his best to ruin everyone else's life, in general. These diverging motivations and painful histories conflict rather well, in the isolated Appalachians. The ending comes across as an action thriller, but this film is mostly a thriller in nature.

The film begins with two protagonists: Billy and Charlotte; but, the film slowly begins to focus more and more on Charlotte, with Wayne becoming a minor character. Holy Ghost People is a film about Charlotte coming to terms with guilt and loss. The villains help her realize her loss. As well, Charlotte's voiceover and screen time dominate the picture, despite this character's apparent meekness. Still, Charlotte holds the attention, despite her small frame and unheroic approach to truth. Her search for Liz is undeterred by any obstacles. And, Charlotte's weaknesses: reliance on lying and inability to confront the truth become her greatest strengths, late in the picture.

Holy Ghost People is a well constructed production and story. The film is fairly straight-forward in nature, but the characters are complex. Even minor characters have their own troubles. Altieri's use of the camera is unusually shaky in earlier scenes, but the screen stops moving around after a few minutes. The settings look authentic and all of the actors appear realistically in their roles. The production offers few hitches, with events unfolding in a fairly quick fashion. This viewer only had one complaint; the length of the film is quite short, at eighty minutes. The film is mostly over before you know it and the climax seems slightly rushed. Still, this title is very much more hit than miss.

This title recently released through video-on-demand formats and thriller fans will find a gem here. The acting from Emma Greenwell and Brendan McCarthy is believable and the relationship between Charlotte and Wayne is what holds the story together. The film here is a small one and Holy Ghost People comes across very much like an indie film, but these elements are what helps the film standout from many others (focus). Altieri's latest thriller is one of his best and this viewer will continue to follow the Butcher Brother's tense works.

Overall: 8 out of 10 (a believable story, complex characters, short, the climax is short as well).

A trailer for the film is available here:

A Holy Ghost People Trailer on 28DLA


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Posted in: 2014,drama,dramatic thriller,film,film review,movie,movie review,review,the butcher brothers,thriller