The Resurrection Apprentice

I saw the The Resurrection Apprentice at Fantasia last year and was very impressed. Not really a horror film but a moody little drama which never took a misstep. At times it reminded me of Alfred L. Werker's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, certainly the excellent use of fog and the ambiguous lighting suggest an homage to that film. The dialog was rich and reminiscent of Dickens. I was surprised to learn that the film was shot in New Jersey. I met with the director Glenn McQuaid after the screening and he told me he was planning to expand the story into a feature. I hope this happens as I want to see more of this haunting world.

Acting, cinematography and directing are great. The characters are dark but alluring. The story is intriguing and makes me want to know more about the subject of the story. Grave robbing, never thought it could have happened or does happen but after seeing this short, hmmmm...., I think again. Larry Fessenden is great as Arthur Blake. His physicality's and accent are perfect. The scenes are set in a grave yard with lots of mist and fog, giving a creepy effect, which is perfect for the story line. This is definitely a short film worth seeing! I've seen quite a few shorts in my time and usually lighting, sound, props or location is compromised but not in this short film. It's the perfect introduction to a feature. Hope to see this short made into a feature someday.

Writer/director Glenn McQuaid has crafted a superbly atmospheric piece with his debut production, The Resurrection Apprentice. What unfolds in its 13 fleeting minutes is a stylish "Hammer-esque" tale of redemption set against the dark world of grave robbing. McQuaid has the eye of an artist and this macabre tale has real moments of beauty and is accompanied with a soundtrack that belongs in it's time. What really made it for me was the boy, Daniel Manche, with a performance far beyond his years and definitely a name to look out for in the future. A skilfully told story well directed by McQuaid, who I would assume will next return at the reigns of a feature length production.

The one thing that stuck with me about this film is it's mood. It is a macabre and unsettling tale. More folksy in it's telling and definitely not part of the modern horror movement. Glenn McQuaid is a talented writer and director that gives us an entire world in 15minutes. The performances from Fessenden and Manche are terrific. It would have been very easy for them to have hammed it up but instead they give us subtle and enticing acting. I wanted to know more about the characters. What happens to them when they leave the cemetery? Does the kid survive another night? The music is spot on and brings to mind the Paul Giovanni soundtrack for The Wicker Man. Celtic whistles and whispers haunt the cemetery as the character make their way to find a bloodied corpse! Marvelous stuff! It's a shame that so many horror classics are being remade when there are fresh ideas out there like The Resurrection Apprentice that are just waiting to be developed further.

Watch out for Gravediggers.. Do you really know their intentions? Glen Mcquid writer and director of Resurrection Apprentice created this wonderful Haunting piece. Every last detail of this film, color, texture and look, transports you back to the old horror classics of Hammer films. You forget this was written and done only last year and it leaves you want more. Performance by Larry Fessenden and Daniel Manche are compelling and subtle. Their performance are so convincing, forgetting again this was not filmed in 19th century old England. No doubt Glen Mcquid will go to bigger and better things, can't wait to see what he has in store for us next. I'm sure equally as moody or twisted.