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TIFF Review: ‘The Wind’ Howls as an Atmospheric, Sinister Horror-Western

Published

6 years ago

September 15, 2018

Directed by Emma Tammi, The Wind is a grim, atmospheric study of a desolate environment that hides a dark secret.

The script was developed from true first-hand accounts of frontier women who settled in the prairies and were driven mad by the unrelenting howl of the wind. Written by Teresa Sutherland, the plot explores this madness through a dark supernatural influence as the characters panic about what evils could be moving through the dark nights.

Set in the 1800s, the story is told in a non-linear structure, meaning that the viewer jumps through the timeline to understand how the story unfolds, giving depth and significance to each character’s emotional state.

via IMDb

We follow Lizzy (Caitlin Gerard, Insidious: The Last Key), a young woman who is thrilled to see new “neighbours” move in to a nearby cabin. Across the vast field, their home is visible as just a flicker of light through the dark of night. Lizzy and her husband do their best to make the new couple feel welcome, but the new resident’s young wife, Emma (Julia Goldani Telles, Slender Man), struggles to adjust from her previous life in the city. The longer they stay, the stranger Emma’s actions become as she is convinced that an evil entity is after her. When Lizzy’s husband must leave home for a several-day-on-horseback journey, she starts to question her own comfort and safety in this oppressive isolation.

The film revels in its atmosphere – a bleak, hopeless tundra with no help in sight. Lizzy is our guide and unreliable narrator through the story. We stick to her side through the whole film, moving through the daily motions of necessary chores and feeling her terror as she faces each night alone.

Written, directed, edited, and designed by women, the relevance of lines of dialogue like “Don’t be unpleasant in front of the men” are not lost on the audience. This idea of the “hysterical woman” is communicated with an appropriate weight.

via TIFF

For a film that focuses on the madness supposedly caused by an unyielding wind, the sound design is obviously extremely important. The Wind utilizes silence in a way that pushes the plot forward, and it’s stunning. The opening sequence is completely silent – save for the constant howling of the wind – and it immediately sets a taut, unsettling tone.

Despite the limited dialogue, we gain a complete understanding of each character. In true pioneer fashion, it’s an economical script that doesn’t mince words. Every line of communication is direct and to-the-point.

The silence of the film envelops Lizzy and builds a deafening claustrophobia, where every spare inch is filled by that constant wind. It’s so powerful that in the extremely rare occurrences where the wind is not present, it’s a bit of a shock to the senses.

A driving score was composed for the film by Ben Lovett (The Ritual) using period instruments like the nyckelharpa to produce an earthly, haunting sound that plays on a base instinct we’ve long since forgotten.

Because of the tension that’s tightly coiled by the sound design, any sudden releases are sincerely frightening. There were a few moments in the TIFF screening where the whole audience physically jumped (a genuine response that I haven’t witnessed in a long time).

via TIFF

The Wind places the focus on the experiences of women in a period when their stories aren’t often told. Westerns typically focus on a glorified version of a man’s work, promptly ignoring the struggles that went into the development of land and maintenance of a household. It acts as a humbling look at the lifestyle and dangers of pioneer life in the prairies, and the fears that ran wild in such an unrestrained environment.

The non-linear storytelling can be a bit clunky at times, but it’s a necessary function in revealing the full story. Overall, The Wind is a quiet, twisting, thrilling horror-western that settles under your skin and prickles your senses.

The Wind will be playing next as part of Fantastic Fest’s 2018 lineup.

via IMDb

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.