Soft Liquid Center (2023) Poster

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4/10
Interesting
BandSAboutMovies1 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Co-writer, producer and star Steph Holmbo makes her feature film debut in this film, which has been described as "an enigmatic tale of #MeToo psychological horror inspired by real events."

Holmbo has decided to share her experiences through "phantasmagoric and supernatural lenses."

Directed by Perry Home Video and written by Holmbo with Joseph Kolean and Zachary Gutierrez, this has the woman moving out and being on her own, but what seems like a place of respite turns horrific with moments small -- a refrigerator inexplicably filled with rotting food -- and huge -- red light bathing everything.

There's also a moment where a watermelon pays the price.

Soft Liquid Center may not appeal to everyone -- literally it sits in place for some time and just has ambient audio for some parts -- but for those who catch the vibe, it may feel just right.
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3/10
Dull and boring...
paul_haakonsen28 January 2024
Of course I had not heard about this 2023 movie titled "Soft Liquid Center", when I happened to stumble upon it by random chance here in 2024. Initially I skipped on the movie, given the movie's rather uninteresting cover. But I came back to it, wanting to find out what it was about. And seeing it was a horror movie, of course I opted to sit down and watch it.

Writers and directors Zachary Gutierrez, Steph Holmbo and Joseph Kolean put together a script and storyline that wasn't overly interesting. The narrative of the movie was rather mundane and slow paced, and thus it was somewhat of a struggle to sit through it and keep feigning an interest in what was transpiring on the screen. 31 minutes into the movie and I was already ready to call it quits, yet I opted to endure and stick with it, hoping the movie would pick up in pace and contents.

However, that just never happened.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie. However, I can't claim that I was particular impressed with the performances I witnessed on the screen. Sure, I've seen far worse acting performances in other movies, so at least it wasn't all bad.

The dialogue in the movie is a bag of mixed nuts. Some of the dialogue is amazingly dubious, cringeworthy and just downright bad, and those instances were a bit difficult to sit through.

Throughout the course of the movie, directors Zachary Gutierrez, Steph Holmbo and Joseph Kolean did incorporate some rather interesting visual shots, which did add a sense of mystery.

I would not recommend you waste 82 minutes on watching "Soft Liquid Center", not even if you are a horror aficionado like myself. This movie just simply isn't worth the effort. The movie was effectively as bland and boring as the movie's cover.

My rating of "Soft Liquid Center" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.
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2/10
Guaranteed to make you regret the time you spent watching it
jfgibson737 January 2024
Soft Liquid Center is one of the more unsatisfying horror movies I've seen in a while. It is well-filmed, the performances are enjoyable, it has a great soundtrack, and it is pretty scenic much of the time. My main problem is the story. It isn't so much that it is a slow burn or that some things were slightly ambiguous; a movie can do that and still be enjoyable. But in this story, it felt like they had ideas for some cool things to film wihout taking the time to decide what it had to do with the plot. Rather than bother to think everything through and ensure it was all coherent, they chose to leave things open-ended. This will trick viewers into imagining that these filler scenes actually have meaning for them to interpret, and they will go on to label Soft Liquid Center as "intelligent." In fact, it is not scary or entertaining in any way.
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10/10
Tired of imdb baby voters
ron_iamamo17 December 2023
Alright listen. Just because a movie is not for you, doesn't mean it's a bad movie. If you didn't like it, it's most likely because that's not your type... but imdb voters have absolutely no sens of objectivity: "boooo i didn't like it so i'll vote 1"....

Secondly, maybe that's your type of movie but if you happened to still not liking it, still doesn't mean it's a bad movie, it's just not for your taste and you perhaps have bad ones as well.

Don't get me wrong, there are TONS of objectively bad movies. This one isn't. "Soft Liquid Centre" is a really well crafted gem. The photography reminds us of a typical A24 quality. It's intentionally minimal with a few dialogues because the silence conveys much more.

The actors deliver a strong performance as well. As for the soundtrack, it's exactly what it needed for such tense narrative. The use of steady shots is a very obvious signature choice and there are sometimes very subtle zoomings that completely work.

This is not your popcorn horror, it is SMART horror. No cheap jumpscares for dumb-dumbs, instead we have real horror effects that will make your body unconfortable (omg that red scene had me on the edge). I watch a lot of horror and this one is highly efficient (in the vein of Hereditary or It Follows).

I'm not going into detail for the story, this is an experience film, not a teenage blockbuster. Yes, not for everyone, dare I say not for the majority as the details and vibes are only perceptible to the trained true movie lover eye.

Call me "artsy-fartsy", I don't care, I know a good film when i see one, no matter the type. This movie is the reason why I love films and also why I'm desperate to always see the same generic Hollywood garbage (superheores and other time wasting, cash grabbing titles).

Again, if you don't like slow-paced, intelligent and tensed movies, move along. If you like that kind, give it a shot and rate it fairly. To me, it's a very solid 8/10 but because egocentric voters didn't "like it" and felt the urge to give it a ludicrous "1", I gave it a 10 to compensate.

Stop rating movies if it's not your type of film, no one cares about your little ego.
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10/10
Best independent horror film i've seen since blair witch
hockey_813 December 2023
"Soft Liquid Center" is a hidden gem in the world of low-budget independent horror films, proving that you don't need a big budget to deliver bone-chilling suspense and a climactic finish. Directed by the relatively unknown but immensely talented newcomers, Perry Home Video, this film takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of fear and intrigue.

The story revolves around a woman finding herself after a recent breakup. Strange occurrences begin to unfold, and the woman becomes increasingly enveloped in a nightmarish struggle. Perry Home Video's skillful direction, combined with a minimalist approach to special effects, creates an atmosphere that is both unnerving and captivating.

One of the film's standout features is its masterful use of suspense. Perry Home Videos plays with the audience's expectations, building tension through subtle cues and eerie silences. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing the fear to creep up gradually, and every creak of the floorboards becomes a heartbeat in the darkness. The cinematography, despite limited resources, is surprisingly effective in conveying a sense of claustrophobia and isolation, amplifying the overall sense of dread.

The cast, predominantly composed of unknown actors, delivers commendable performances that feel genuine and relatable.

The climax of the film is a tour de force, delivering on the promises made throughout the slow burn. The tension reaches a fever pitch, and Perry Home Video's decision to leave certain aspects to the audience's imagination pays off with a genuinely chilling and unexpected resolution. The final scenes are both satisfying and haunting, leaving the audience questioning the thin line between reality and the supernatural.

While "Soft Liquid Center" may not boast big-budget special effects or star-studded casts, its brilliance lies in its ability to harness the power of suspense and storytelling. Perry Home Video has crafted a horror masterpiece that stands as a testament to the creativity and innovation that can emerge from the world of independent filmmaking. This is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts seeking an interesting take on the genre.
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