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[REVIEW] ‘Daughter of Dismay’ Crafts a Dismal Tale

Published

5 years ago

October 3, 2019

Imagery is a powerful tool in horror films, and the most powerful movies have images that stick in your head long after you leave the theater, or when you’re trying to sleep at night. Director James Quinn (Flesh of the Void) knows this well; his films have often been cited and even criticized for their shocking imagery. He often relies on framing the perfect image that represents the mood of his films, a skill learned from his experience with photography.

While his past work has featured disturbing and shocking imagery and storylines, his newest short, Daughter of Dismay, has a more muted and dreary approach, showcasing a more restrained and gothic filmmaking style.

The short also boasts many impressive feats. It is the first narrative short film shot in 70 mm film for IMAX and boasts multiple award-winning crew members, such as Joseph Bishara (Insidious, The Conjuring) who did the score, producer Justin Schenck (The Exorcist TV show), foley artist Martin Langenbach (Suspiria) and sound engineer Steve Maslow (Empire Strikes Back).

Without giving away the plot too much, the silent short follows an emotionally damaged witch who enters a forest to make sacrifices to fulfill her desires.

Overall, Daughter of Dismay creates a slow and “dismal” atmosphere that permeates throughout the landscape, which is almost a character itself here. While in some areas the short is held back by pacing issues and the character designs are a little over-the-top, some of the disturbing imagery near the end holds up to Quinn’s previous work, making a more mature and, dare I say, audience-friendly film.

The short begins with some imposing and grand landscape shots, which look all the more impressive in the IMAX format. The forest is a huge part of this short, and so the setting, Ohio, works here.

The first half’s landscape and music builds tension steadily throughout the short until an act of mutilation halfway through the film. In this otherwise relatively tame short, the mutilation scene is satisfying and nicely executed right in the viewer’s face. Where his other films have much more frequent gore in them, this buildup makes the scene much more meaningful and disturbing.

The whole short, which is about 8 minutes in length, feels like an ethereal nightmare. The actions of the characters are slow and drawn out. A feeling of dread permeates the short, with the viewer in the dark especially with the absence of dialogue.

One downside of the short is that the costuming and acting are too dramatic within the realistic setting and storyline. Some of the props and makeup seemed out of place and unnecessarily complicated. For example, the witch’s hair or the mask worn by another character. While they would have been more normal for Quinn’s other films, it just didn’t work here (although, I was a big fan of the witch’s nasty look).

While it is very moody and foreboding, not a lot happens. It would have been nice to see a little more story. If you were to see 10 images from the short, you would basically get the plot.

It’s nice to see Quinn expanding his work and getting more opportunities to create with his subversive take on cinema. I am excited to see where he takes Daughter of Dismay –especially since he is planning on extending it into a feature- but hopefully he will have the opportunity to smooth out some of the problem areas in that process.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

10 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

11 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

13 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.