My spoiler free review for The Bloody Asylum that can be found at WordPress, Mr Geeky blog:
This gem of a film initially came to my attention because of Abigail Breslin being the lead. Anyone who knows me will know that one of my favourite films is the unjustly underrated Maggie from 2015, in which she co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Abigail Breslin despite being only in her 20s has been acting for nearly 20 years. Her first feature film role was in M. Night Shaymalan's Signs way back in 2002. She then went on to appear in the highly acclaimed Little Miss Sunshine, Oscar nominated for her scene stealing performance. However, she is more widely known by horror fans for Zombieland and the series Scream Queens.
The final girl, as horror fans will know, refers to the last female survivor of most slasher films. The title Final Girl intentionally wrong foots the audience, being a film that is quite a bit different from that which its title suggests, feeling unique and very unpredictable. It combines elements of the slasher genre, along with La Femme Nikkita, and The Most Dangerous Game in the World. The film-makers take the expected genre tropes of these films, yet gives them an unexpected spin. Although it does use some slasher conventions there is very little blood and gore. The story itself is told in a linear form, whereas the feeling is a non-linear narrative would have added more of a mystery to the events as they unfolded.
While it does have some faults, Final Girl is a really solid debut feature film from photographer Tyler Shields that overcomes these faults. The really impressive aspect is look of the film, so obviously from the eye of a photographer. However, while at times stunning to look at the film would have benefited from a more grittier feel.
The real strength of the film lies with the cast. Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley of The Hunger Games and American Beauty, and Alexander Ludwig, more widely known for the TV series The Vikings and The Hunger Games, being the standouts. However, a little more depth to the characters would have made the film as a whole as engaging as the performances.
The Final Girl is a hugely enjoyable film with some depth to its themes. At times it feels like it is spoofing the genres of film it references, but made by fans of those genres. At 80 minutes long it rattles along and is never boring.
For those looking for something that is a little different and unpredictable you could do far worse.
This gem of a film initially came to my attention because of Abigail Breslin being the lead. Anyone who knows me will know that one of my favourite films is the unjustly underrated Maggie from 2015, in which she co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Abigail Breslin despite being only in her 20s has been acting for nearly 20 years. Her first feature film role was in M. Night Shaymalan's Signs way back in 2002. She then went on to appear in the highly acclaimed Little Miss Sunshine, Oscar nominated for her scene stealing performance. However, she is more widely known by horror fans for Zombieland and the series Scream Queens.
The final girl, as horror fans will know, refers to the last female survivor of most slasher films. The title Final Girl intentionally wrong foots the audience, being a film that is quite a bit different from that which its title suggests, feeling unique and very unpredictable. It combines elements of the slasher genre, along with La Femme Nikkita, and The Most Dangerous Game in the World. The film-makers take the expected genre tropes of these films, yet gives them an unexpected spin. Although it does use some slasher conventions there is very little blood and gore. The story itself is told in a linear form, whereas the feeling is a non-linear narrative would have added more of a mystery to the events as they unfolded.
While it does have some faults, Final Girl is a really solid debut feature film from photographer Tyler Shields that overcomes these faults. The really impressive aspect is look of the film, so obviously from the eye of a photographer. However, while at times stunning to look at the film would have benefited from a more grittier feel.
The real strength of the film lies with the cast. Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley of The Hunger Games and American Beauty, and Alexander Ludwig, more widely known for the TV series The Vikings and The Hunger Games, being the standouts. However, a little more depth to the characters would have made the film as a whole as engaging as the performances.
The Final Girl is a hugely enjoyable film with some depth to its themes. At times it feels like it is spoofing the genres of film it references, but made by fans of those genres. At 80 minutes long it rattles along and is never boring.
For those looking for something that is a little different and unpredictable you could do far worse.