Connect with us

News

TADFF Review: ‘The Furies’ is a Brutal, Bloody, Battle Royale

Published

on

the furies

From writer/director Tony D’Aquino, The Furies follows Kayla (Airlie Dodds, Killing Ground) as she wakes up alone, in a box, in the middle of the Australian outback. She soon discovers that she’s not as alone as she had initially thought — there are other young women all on the run from a collective of hulking masked men who are hunting them down one by one. 

It feels like a familiar concept, but The Furies brings enough blood and guts to the table that it all evens out. The film is chock-full of gnarly practical effects and clever character designs that pay homage to some of the great killers in horror. Visually, the film has that same frantic, sun-scorched quality as visceral slasher classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and it works to heighten the tension. There are no shadows to hide behind here. 

One thing that D’Aquino did not pull from the slasher films of yore is the hyper-sexualization of their female characters. In The Furies, the focus is solely on our leading women, who always remain fully dressed and in uncompromised positions. There’s never any discussion of boyfriends coming to save them or romantic partners who might miss them; the film absolutely smashes the Bechdel test. As a female horror fan, it’s good to see a group of young female characters with distinct personalities, flaws, and fears — particularly in a film where they’re being hunted down as prey. It would be far too easy to slip into the trap of triviality, but D’Aquino steers clear. 

The film’s titular Furies — in Greco-Roman mythology — were the chthonic goddesses of vengeance, each with their own distinct role. We can see the characteristics of the three Furies represented in the film’s characters, sealing their fate as the story unfolds. It’s a lovely nod to the mythology while keeping the creative focus on the classic horror elements. 

via IMDb

One of the film’s hiccups is the plot. It’s not particularly complex, but the somewhat incomplete explanation ends up just overcomplicating the whole ordeal. There are unanswered questions, which in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing — sometimes it’s better to leave it up to interpretation — but the ends feel a bit too loose for it to be a nice tight finish. It sets up a conclusion that has a lot of built up energy, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing. 

Performance wise, The Furies gets exactly what it needs from its actors. Dodds as Kayla dives head-first into the role, sinking her teeth into every scrap of meat she can find. Taylor Ferguson (Glitch) only has limited screen time as Sheena, but she makes a big impression. The character of Rose, however, (Linda Ngo, Mako Mermaids) is perhaps a bit heavy-handed for the purpose she has to serve. She’s a bit too childish, and it’s a little on-the-nose. 

When we first meet Kayla, she holds herself in a state of timid unease; she’s reluctant to indulge in a bit of anarchic fun as her best friend Maddie (Ebony Vagulans, My Life is Murder) goads her on. It builds her as a self-restrained character who makes excuses for herself. She’s not one to joyously scream at the top of her lungs. Once both Maddie and Kayla are abducted and brought into this battle royale nightmare, we see Kayla gradually letting herself — letting everything — go. 

Kayla is determined to find her friend and get the hell out; in order to survive, she pushes herself beyond what she could possibly imagine. The strength she finds within herself is a dramatic shift away from the Kayla we met at the beginning of the film. As with any classic Final Girl, she walks through fire and comes out on the other side a changed woman. She’s shaped by her trauma, but she finds a way to harness that fury.    

The Furies TADFF

via IMDb

For even the pickiest of gore hounds, The Furies delivers some truly satisfying effects. One scene in particular that involves an axe had me clenching in my seat (and I was so happy about it). D’Aquino lingers on the action, selling the hell out of every drop of blood. In cooperation, the foley work and sound effects are maximized for the ultimate cringe factor. Though the more gruesome aspects are used economically, there are some memorable moments that make it worthwhile. 

The Furies is a blood-drenched female-focused take on the hunter-and-hunted subgenre that plucks out the tired tropes of classic slashers. It’s an homage to horror that works hard for its scares, even though it can get a bit bogged down by its own ideas. But if you’re looking for a night of tension and pristine practical effects, pop this one on. It just might kill your expectations.

 

For more from Toronto After Dark, check out our coverage here, and click here to read my interview with writer/director Tony D’Aquino.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

Childhood Memories Collide in New Horror Film ‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’

Published

on

It looks like ITN Studious and Jagged Edge Productions are going the Avengers: Infinity War route with their upcoming film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. From the deranged mind of Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) comes this belligerent mash up of beloved childhood icons.

According to an article out of Variety today, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will consist of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. All of these iconic figured will be warped into nightmarish versions of their former selves. Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is set to be released upon the world sometime in 2025.

Poohniverse

Actor-producer Scott Chambers (Malevolent) had the following to say about Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,’ ‘Scream,’ all of those. Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will be a part of The Twisted Childhood Universe. Just like the MCU, each character will first get a standalone film. After introductions are made, they will be reunited in an Avengers style film. Although they will be killing off the survivors from the previous films, they won’t be working together.

Chambers describes this as an “epic sequences of monster vs. monster.” And I don’t know what more fans could ask of the studio. This fantastical idea is a huge risk but Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble sounds amazing.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Check back here for more updates on Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 below.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

Blumhouse’s ‘The Wolf Man’ Reboot Kicks Off Production with Leigh Whannell at the Helm

Published

on

Blumhouse Productions has officially commenced filming its reboot of the Universal Monsters legend, “Wolf Man”. Under the direction of Leigh Whannell, known for his acclaimed work on “The Invisible Man” (2020), the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic tale. The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 25th, marking a new chapter in the storied franchise.

Wolf Man

The journey of a “Wolf Man” reboot began in 2020 when actor Ryan Gosling presented a fresh take on the classic story to Universal. This concept quickly evolved into a screenplay crafted by the talented duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who are known for their work on “Orange Is the New Black,” alongside contributions from Whannell and Corbett Tuck. The narrative is set in contemporary times, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric tension of Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler,” albeit with a distinct supernatural twist.

The film has seen its share of directorial and casting shifts, with Whannell initially signing on to direct in 2020, only to step away and then return to the project after Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance exited. The lead roles have been filled by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, both of whom bring significant talent to the screen. Abbott portrays a man whose family faces the terror of a lethal predator, with Garner likely playing his wife, sharing in the familial peril. The storyline also hints at a daughter named Ginger, adding a layer of depth to the family’s harrowing experience.

Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott

This reboot represents a collaboration between Blumhouse and Motel Movies, with Jason Blum producing. Ryan Gosling remains involved as an executive producer, alongside Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner, and Whannell himself. The announcement of the film’s production start was made by Jason Blum, who shared an exciting glimpse of Whannell on set, signaling the beginning of what is hoped to be a memorable addition to the horror genre.

As the “Wolf Man” reboot moves forward, fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this modern interpretation will pay homage to its roots while offering a fresh and thrilling experience. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, the film is poised to reintroduce the timeless tale of transformation and terror to a new generation.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Games

‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

Published

on

Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Horror Movie Reaction Video