#ifcmidnight

SYNOPSIS: After the suspicious death of her brother who was a priest, Grace, an accomplished ophthalmologist in London, is summoned to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened to him. Refusing to believe the convent’s insistence that he committed ‘suicide,’ and determined to discover what really happened to him, Grace starts her own investigation into her brother’s death as the nuns prepare a consecration ceremony to purify the holy site. By doing so, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and something far more disturbing, which relates to the forgotten years of her own childhood, intertwined with that of the holy order of the convent and the secret it’s charged with protecting.

REVIEW: Christopher Smith’s CONSECRATION is a magnificently crafted tale that combines a genre tale with a mystery thriller. Just like the big reveal of a whodunit, he provides us with all the clues and we still don’t see it coming.

The tale begins by presenting us with Grace, a strong woman of science, who seems gracious and thoughtful, but clearly not religious. Her brother, Michael, is a priest, which offers a nice contrast to her character. Given elements surrounding the investigation into her brother’s death she decides that she needs to do her own investigation. Her brother has not simply committed suicide, but he is accused of murdering a fellow priest. Upon her arrival Grace meets Father Romero, who has been sent by the Vatican to investigate the deaths and re-consecrate the church due to the bloody events. Clearly, there is something that they are not telling her, but while the nuns seem hostile Father Romero appears to be on her side and provides her with a box of her brother’s belongings. As she dives into the mystery Grace begins to have visions, some memories long forgotten. The plot does an excellent job of weaving in complex characters with supernatural elements that are plotted like a well crafted mystery.  As the story draws to its climax the biggest question becomes the true nature of evil given the full scope of what’s transpired. If someone perceives another’s actions as evil are they or is it because of an ignorance on the other’s part? It is an excellent question that has been addressed in literature but I don’t believe as adroitly in a genre film.

The film is spectacular to look at. There is a subtle tone that feels like it pays homage to Ken Russell’s 1971 film “The Devils,” but is a bit more grounded. I loved the costumes, the production designs and the cinematography. It is a tale that draws keenly on the location. The modern church and the ruins added so much to the film. There is a lot of atmosphere that is enhanced by the lighting, angles and framing. There are a lot of shots that employ classic imagery of genre films from the 60’s and 70’s.  Enhancing the performances and visuals is a marvelous score by composer Nathan Halpern. It easily calls to mind the works of Jerry Goldsmith, but with subtler moments that nudge the tension and suspense without being employed for a jump effect.

Veteran actress Jena Malone plays Grace. She presents a vast emotional palette that is grounded in strength and slowly becomes immersed in this surreal nightmare that feels like a contemporary Alice falling down a religious spiral. There is a point where she evolves from victim to hero of her story. Deep down you want to cheer for her. Danny Huston is fantastic as Father Romero. While there is something not to trust about Vatican lawyers, he presents this sincere person who is on Grace’s side among this order of vipers. It is a more restrained performance than some of those we’ve seen before, but certainly not lacking authority and gravitas. Stealing the show is Dame Janet Suzman as mother superior. She brings to life the nightmare of every Catholic schooled child in the world. No matter what is coming out of her mouth, there are times you can see the murder taking place behind her eyes. The rest of this talented cast creates memorable moments, layering the mystery and fostering the tension that make this such a haunting view.

CONSECRATION is another great film by veteran filmmaker Christopher Smith. With co-writer Laurie Cook, he creates a hypnotic tale that blends mystery and supernatural elements into a spellbinding character study. The visuals and performances beguile the viewer into the tale, delivering a crescendo with a stunning ending almost as impactful as “The Sixth Sense.” CONSECRATION is a wickedly delightful supernatural mystery with an ending that leaves you with something to ponder. Christopher Smith is a talented filmmaker, and if you have not seen his other features such as “Creep,” “Severance,” “Black Death,” or “The Banishing,” to name a few, you should seek them out.

CAST: Jena Malone, Danny Huston, Ian Pirie, Dame Janet Suzman, Thoren Ferguson, Victoria Donovan, Angela White, Jolade Obasola, & Alexandra Lewis. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Christopher Smith; Screenplay/Producer - Laurie Cook; Producers - Stuart Ford, Casey Herbert, Xavier Marchand & Jason Newmark; Cinematographers - Rob Hart & Shaun Mone; Score - Nathan Halpern; Editor - Arthur Davis; Production Designer - Elizabeth El-Kadhi; Costume Designer - Emily Newby; Makeup Supervisor - Liz Arklie; Prosthetics Artist - Nikoleta Tzani; Special Effects Supervisor - Keith Harding; Visual Effects - AGC Studios/Bigscope Films; Visual Effects Producer - Joe Carhart OFFICIAL: www.ifcfilms.com/films/consecration FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/IFCMidnight/ TWITTER: twitter.com/IFCMidnight TRAILER: https://youtu.be/uDO3CafOomI RELEASE DATE: In Theaters February 10th, 2023, from IFC Films and Shudder

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

SYNOPSIS:  Sophie was a talented competitive skier, but an accident left her blind and bitter. In order to feel useful, she attempts to hide her blindness and take house-sitting jobs. Her recent one finds her at a secluded mansion. However, a team of burglars are told the house is empty and Sophie now finds herself in a home invasion situation. Her only means of defense is a new app, “See For Me”. The app connects Sophie to Kelly, a volunteer across the country who helps her survive by seeing on her behalf. Kelly is an army veteran who spends her days playing first-person shooter games. Sophie is forced to remove the chip from her shoulder if she’s going to survive the night and accept Kelly’s help. Sophie begins to reconnect with who she used to be and a blind teenage girl finds that even though she is disabled she is not powerless.

REVIEW: Wow, this is a film where the trailer does not do it justice. Right from the start all I could think about were comparisons to Richard Fleischer’s 1971 film “See No Evil” starring Mia Farrow. However, Adam Yorke and Tommy Gushue’s plot has more edge and an anti-hero, less sympathetic character at its core. They combine a variety of elements to weave this fascinating and complex character driven thriller.

I loved the fact that Sophie has an edge to her. While she can’t stand her present situation, her actions are far from altruistic. Even when things begin to go sideways any empathy the viewer might be feeling quickly dissipates as her actions are a total shock to the viewers expectations. The filmmakers craft a brilliant character as Sophie is placed in peril and she is forced to make some difficult choices. I have high regard for the writers as they constructed other characters that did not feel cliched, the dialogue felt authentic to each one. The film has an excellent character balance that creates an interactive labyrinth for Sophie’s character arc. The story is wonderfully focused on Sophie and everything else is in service of talking the viewer on this electrifying, unexpected ride.

As this is Sophie’s story, the entire film rests on the performance of Skyler Davenport. What makes this even more fascinating is Skyler’s story, a truly remarkable one. As such, I could not say it any better, and here is my introduction to Skylar from the press release:

“Skyler Davenport is a visually impaired actor on the spectrum. (Born Kathrine Davenport, Skyler identifies as non-binary and changed their legal name after having 'top' surgery, as it is referred to in the LGBTQ community.) Skyler suffered neurological vision loss due in part to a rare condition caused by genetic mutation known as hemiplegic migraines, which mimic a stroke and affect approximately 0.01% of the population. After one of these attacks morphed into a stroke in 2012, Skyler suffered permanent vision loss and became legally blind. Spending many years in hospitals and specialist offices as they re-learned to do daily activities, Skyler eventually left western medicine behind after being told to ‘learn braille and get a live-in assistant’. They decided to continue to pursue a childhood dream of acting despite these new obstacles, hoping to inspire others with disabilities along the way. Coming from a massive background in voice-over for video games and cartoons such as ‘Final Fantasy,’ ‘Pokemon,’ and many others, the transition to screen has been a harmonious one.

“Skyler looks forward to working on projects that bring empowering messages to the public, and lovingly changing outdated narratives along the way.”

Not to take away from any of the other performances in this stellar ensemble cast, Skylar is a wow and without a doubt an excellent reason to watch this film.

Bravo to director Randall Okita. He captures such organic and genuine performances that drew me in and consumed my attention right to the very end. The editing is killer, the cinematography is breathtaking and the effects are perfect as they strike a nice balance in the tension, suspense and horror. Okita works like a master conductor who draws out and supports the best performance possible from the numerous sections in an invigorating and awe inspiring production.

This is director Randall Okita’s second feature film, his first the 2016 film “The Lockpicker.” Based on his work here, a film I will seek out. While he has directed a few shorts and a TV series documentary I would hope another six years comes to pass before his next feature. Likewise, Skyler Davenport is an amazing actor and can’t wait for what comes next. SEE FOR ME is a pulse-pounding thriller that exemplifies the best of what the cinema can be.

CAST: Skyler Davenport, Kim Coates, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Pascal Langdale, Joe Pingue, George Tchortov, and Laura Vandervoort. CREW: Director - Randall Okita; Screenplay - Adam Yorke & Tommy Gushue; Producers- David Di Brina, Adam Yorke, Matt Code, & Kristy Neville; Cinematographers - Jackson Parrell & Jordan Oram; Score - Joseph Murray & Lodewijk Vos; Editor - James Vandewater; Production Designer - Ciara Vernon; Costume Designer - Robyn MacDonald; Special Effects Supervisor - Derek Liscoumb; Special Effects - Ian Cole. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/bClVX_gd3xw RELEASE DATE: Opening in Theaters, Digital Platforms and VOD on January 7th, 2022

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

SYNOPSIS: On a remote homestead amongst the Martian frontier, a refugee family from Earth clings to hope for a better life. But when strangers appear in the surrounding hills and attempt to run them off, nine-year-old Remmy is faced with the desperate reality her mother and father have tried so hard to keep from her.

REVIEW: SETTLERS is a hybrid of a science fiction movie with classic western plot devices. There are very few original films that did it well, and only “Outland (‘’81),” “Prospect (‘18)” and “Silent Running (‘72)” realized their goals in blending both genres successfully. For all the tech and hardware, a good science fiction film allows the viewer to examine the human condition in a new light. SETTLERS is one of those films.

Wyatt Rockefeller’s screenplay is a complex character driven narrative. He does an excellent job of introducing each one and slowly peels back their layers so we come to know them, understand them. They are an unlikely group who are brought together for a simple reason, but the frightening larger consequences he hints at, leaving our imagination to dwell on it. At the core of the story is Remmy, a child who has never known earth and is raised on stories about the home planet of her parents. Even though she has been raised in this harsh environment she still has a child’s sense of curiosity and wonder. The adults in the tale are presented as desperate survivors. However, the character of Jerry holds the knowledge and expertise to possibly this lost homestead. This small island of hope is housed under a dome that keeps it secluded from the rest of the planet. Given the heaviness of the story, Rockefeller injects a bit of comic relief with the inclusion of a simple robot that is capable of presenting a limited, but effective, range of emotions.

As the viewer watches this tragedy unfold you can’t help but feel the connection to several issues we are facing today. They run the gambit of social, political, and environmental. Much like a child, Rockefeller never tips his hand to give us any explanation as to why some of the adults do what they do. What he does offer only feels like it is scratching the surface. There are many elephants in this story. The filmmaker offers the viewer little emotional release. Even the film’s ending is optimistic, but given things we’ve heard in the story it is certainly not hopeful. There are elements of the story that feel reminiscent of the 1961 “The Twilight Zone” episode “Two,” which was written and directed by Montgomery Pittman, starring Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery. For it being his first feature film, Rockefeller shows he has the talent to have worked alongside any of the writers of that classic series.

Rockefeller and his collaborators did an excellent job of creating the indoor and outdoor environments, and the rest of the area under this dome. You believe they are on mars. Granted they are in a desert, but there were no signs of any other life, except for the plants, in this landscape. I enjoyed the camera work and the editing, especially when it came to taking the viewer from a distant point and slowly brought us into the scene. The location and set dressing looked authentic to a you think an intergalactic settlement might look. They did an amazing job of setting the stage and creating the atmosphere, which they sustain throughout, so the viewer maintains their engagement in the drama.

I loved the performances. Young actress Brooklynn Prince has moments where she is delightful and powerful as she goes through this emotional character arch. All through her struggles she maintains an element of innocence that feels so organic. Actor Ismael Cruz Córdova is a powerhouse of emotions and intensity. You feel that he has a modicum of happiness in moments but there is this lingering tension and anxiety brewing just below the surface. You feel his sincerity of trying to make something good from the situation he is in. Sofia Boutella delivers this heart wrenching performance of a mother being torn apart by these conflicting emotions, rendering many of the character’s actions surprising, shocking, but never something we feel is outside the character’s motivations.

Subtly adding to the film’s complex emotional palette and the atmosphere is a great score by Nitin Sawhney. It is not a constant score throughout, but is nicely woven into the film.

Wyatt Rockefeller’s feature film debut SETTLERS is an impressive orchestration of story, visuals and performances. It is a compelling story that nicely blends the science fiction elements with the tragedy to create a timeless character study of survival in a harsh environment. With Mars looming as the potential new frontier, regardless of all our technical advances Rockefeller’s film presents a cautionary tale of what could happen if we fail to update the human condition before we venture forth. I am totally excited to she what he does with his next film.

CAST: Sofia Boutella, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brooklynn Prince, Nell Tiger Free, and Jonny Lee Miller CREW: Director/Screenplay - Wyatt Rockefeller; Producers - Julie Fabrizio, Joshua Horsfield & Johan Kruger; Cinematographer - Willie Nel; Score - Nitin Sawhney; Editor - Johnny Daukes; ; Production Designer - Noam Piper; Costume Designer - Dihantus Engelbrecht; Robot & Special Effects - Millennium FX; Visual Effects - Mark Myburgh. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/jeCcJCy0HzM RELEASE DATE: IN Theaters and On Demand Friday, July 23rd, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)