There is No Refuge in the Post-apocalyptic Film Genre: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: an online screener of this film was provided by the filmmakers.

Director: Andrew Robertson.

Writers: Lilly Kanso and Andrew Robertson.

Cast: Sebastian Beacon, Chris Kies and Carter Roy.

Tagline: "Stay Hidden, Stay Quiet, Stay Alive."

Refuge is a small post-apocalyptic film from first time director Andrew Robertson. The film is shot in a very bleak style, reminiscent of John Hillcoat's The Road (2009). The colours look very grey. As well, the story offers desperation. A small family is stuck in their home as a pandemic still lurks on the horizon. Anyone can catch a deadly, new sickness, which is resistant to antibiotics. Still, life must trudge on. Robertson's film offers a few compelling action scenes. But, Refuge also offers a few strange turns, in its short seventy minute runtime.

The story begins with Jack (Carter Roy), Kyle (Chris Kies), Nell (Amy Rutberg) and Birdie. This loose knit group forage for food in the local houses, or they protect their small two-storey home. Outside, bodies litter the roadways or lie about in the settings. Death has reduced the world to but a few. Still, Jack does his best to provide for the others. Then, a strange man, wounded in a motorcycle accident, enters the picture. He has a past and that past is following him into Jack's shelter.

Killers or Cannibals lurk in PA film fiction.

The film is set firmly in the post-apocalyptic film genre. This style of film often takes place after a world wide cataclysm. In The Road, a cataclysm has reduced the populace to cannibals. That cataclysm, in The Road, is never fully explained or revealed. In Refuge, the devastation's source is more obvious and explained early in the film. Sickness is the order of the day. Post-apocalyptic film fiction also often deals with the difficulties of surviving such a catastrophe. Lives change when the local shopping centre closes down. Humankind is reduced to an earlier, more primal version. In this form, humanity turns against itself, for a few scraps of food. In Refuge, the central characters find few friends in their local neighbourhood. There are horror elements here, too. But, this title is mostly focused on the post-apocalyptic genre.

The film's visuals are overly grey. The colours have been drained from the film, likely in post-production. A few, short flashbacks show more, vibrant colours. These sequences contrast with the darker ones. Michael Bartlett used a similar style in his feature Treehouse (2014). In the flashbacks, within this film, colours come alive, but the flashbacks also served a purpose. In Robertson's flashbacks, the clips are more of a distraction or a display of contrast; they do not help the story progress, at all. The filmmakers have also used a few long shots to establish the setting's complete ruin. A few shots of roadways and distant smoke show that this cataclysm is wide ranging and ever present. These shots help establish perspective as the character's appear very small in a large disaster. The visual style of the film is a little hit and miss.

Overall, Refuge is a smallish indie film. As well, a few plot holes hamper the progress of the story. This title was filmed for a few thousand dollars. So, characters are few and settings are minimal. Though, a road trip into the apocalypse brings a couple of interesting conflicts into the film. The film does not look cheap, but this is a small story, at its heart. As well, the story offers a few bizarre interactions. The stranger Russell (Sebastian Beacon) is brought into Jack's family a little too quickly. Killers roam the woods, but Jack brings this man to his home without caution? This instance is particularly difficult to believe. Family comes first in the apocalypse. Also, one of Jack's comrades-in-arms is wounded by gunfire. They do not dress, nor tend to his wounds. Sometimes, injuries can be mended. Kyle is left to die, alone, in a barn. These two interactions are awkward and create some unbelievability in the picture. The film's budget have made it difficult to flesh out certain characters and plot points.

Refuge was recently at Screamfest LA (October 18th) and the film will continue a festival run. Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction are encouraged to take a look at the film, if they understand the scope of indie filmmaking. This title offers a few tense action sequences, along with a group of desperate characters. Refuge is a small film, set in the post-apocalyptic genre. Here, killers and disease lurk around every corner. Still, this title is lacking any solid, well developed conflict and Refuge might disappoint a few viewers. This watcher enjoyed the early sequences, while later ones came across as slightly forced.

Overall: 6.5 out of 10 (an open ending, a poorly set-up climax, the final few scenes are a little disappointing).

A trailer for the film is hosted here:

A Refuge Trailer on 28DLA


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