Horror fans are an infamously fickle lot, but their insatiable appetite for psychology-driven themes is nothing short of a historical fact, and with the stakes always ratcheted further up once everything arrives soaked in blood. With these truths in mind, it's hard to imagine they won't find loads to soapbox about with Robert Filion's uniquely excellent, "Athena."
Melding the best elements of horror with those of sci-fi, the disembodied namesake character of "Athena" is heard but not seen as a voice that slowly inhabits the heads of the film's two lead characters. Carl (Matthew Ewald) and Emily (the singularly named Vanelle) share in life's brutal struggle, but in acutely unique ways that find a dark commonality once the inner voice of Athena separately enters their heads and begins commingling with their own thoughts. It's a great concept made more so by Athena's ambiguity of intention: Is she the metaphorical angel whispering in one ear, or the devil whispering in the other?
Filion has married a strong premise with great cinematic execution, and all while coaxing fine performances from his actors. "Athena" is indie horror filmmaking at its most shrewdly aspirational, and is ideally made the masses. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)
Melding the best elements of horror with those of sci-fi, the disembodied namesake character of "Athena" is heard but not seen as a voice that slowly inhabits the heads of the film's two lead characters. Carl (Matthew Ewald) and Emily (the singularly named Vanelle) share in life's brutal struggle, but in acutely unique ways that find a dark commonality once the inner voice of Athena separately enters their heads and begins commingling with their own thoughts. It's a great concept made more so by Athena's ambiguity of intention: Is she the metaphorical angel whispering in one ear, or the devil whispering in the other?
Filion has married a strong premise with great cinematic execution, and all while coaxing fine performances from his actors. "Athena" is indie horror filmmaking at its most shrewdly aspirational, and is ideally made the masses. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)