Charismata (2017)

Psychological horror about a police detective whose sanity begins to unravel as she investigates a series of brutal ritualistic murders.

Directors:

Andy Collier, Toor Mian

Writers:

Andy Collier, Toor Mian

Stars:

Sarah Beck Mather, Jamie Satterthwaite, Andonis Anthony

8 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Beck Mather	...	Rebecca Faraway
Jamie Satterthwaite	...	Michael Sweet
Andonis Anthony	...	Eli Smith
Johnny Vivash	...	Tony Dewire
Ross Mullan	...	Doug
David J. Peel	...	DS Perkins
Ethan Chapples	...	DC Lawrence
Nicole O'Neill	...	Vera Mason
Anthony Taylor	...	DI Clarke
Sean Knopp	...	DC Rice
Ryan Spong	...	Tom Oliver
Paul T. Horsfield	...	Hollis
Louis Hilyer	...	Commissioner Faraway
Mark Knightley	...	Charles Crayne
Dean Roberts	...	Neil Nelson

Storyline

Psychological horror about a police detective whose sanity begins to unravel as she investigates a series of brutal ritualistic murders.

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Plot Keywords:

crime scene | murder investigation | serial killer | skeleton | forensics | 

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Taglines:

Face your demons

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

production company site

Release Date:

September 2017 (USA)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hydra Films RKM,Loose Canon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Horror Hotel: The Ape at Horror Hotel (2018)

User Reviews

Great movie. Just not horror.

Even though there is probably no genre I watch more of, I do not expect too much from my low budget horror. Horror is almost a comfort blanket for me. Lots of time it's background ambiance. That might sound a bit sick and twisted but it's rare I sit up and pay attention to a low budget horror that hasn't been heavily publicized beforehand. There is just so much of it that in some ways I have become desensitized. Generally speaking I tune in and zoom out. So did Charismata make me sit up? Almost.

Charismata suffers from many of the usual pitfalls of the genre. This includes cheap and cheesy CGI and uneven acting. Crucially it is always engaging and excels in two important places.

First Sarah Beck Mather. Playing a British detective losing her mind as she investigates a murder, she is nothing short of sensational. I don't know how well known she is in the UK but I hope to see more of her in the US in the future. The other performances are not bad on the whole. Just more in keeping with what you expect from the genre. The lead though is fantastic and it's not hyperbole to say it is one of the best performances I have seen all year. A star is born. Or at least deserves to be.

Second. Apart from a strange misstep this is one of the best written horror films I have seen in some time. The dialogue sings and while there is nothing entirely original here I was still left guessing until the end.

The most important question when assessing a horror film is it scary?

Sadly, not really. There is an interesting lurid tone, a couple of average jump scares but noting made my skin crawl or my heart race. I would hesitate to even call it a horror. It's much closer to a murder mystery or a quirky Cohen brothers drama set in England. It reminded me more of A Barton Fink or Fargo than it did a Conjuring or Hereditary. This is not a bad thing. In fact it can be taken as a compliment. Just don't pretend it's something that it isn't.

6/10 if you are going in wanting a low budget horror fix.

8/10 if you just want an usual and entertaining movie.