Movie Review: FROM BLACK

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN / Staff Writer

Posted: May 2nd, 2023 / 11:23 PM

FROM BLACK movie poster | ©2023 RLJE Films/Shudder/IFC Films

Rating: Not Rated
Stars: Anna Camp, John Ales, Jennifer Lafleur, Travis Hammer, Ritchie Montgomery, Eduardo Campirano III, Alicia Mason, Ian Casselberry
Writers: Jessub Flower, Thomas Marchese
Director: Thomas Marchese
Distributor: RLJE Films/Shudder
Release Date: April 28, 2023 (Shudder/AMC+)

At the start of FROM BLACK, we see stark fields and leafless trees, then a battered, isolated house with police tape on the porch. What happened in the house probably isn’t responsible for the desolate look of the general area, but it didn’t help.

FROM BLACK takes place in three timeframes: the present, when former drug addict Cora Loewen (Anna Camp) is recounting what happened to her disbelieving sister, police detective Bray Loewen (Jennifer Lafleur); seven years ago, when Cora was living with her scummy boyfriend Wyatt (Travis Hammer), too stoned to notice her little boy Noah (Eduardo Campirano III) leaving the house; and the more recent past.

At the police station, Cora is dazed and terrified, muttering, “I really thought we could get him back.” Bray wants to know why Cora has blood on her.

Ever since Noah disappeared, case still unsolved, Cora has been clean, sober, and in a state of despair. She has joined a support group for other parents of dead or missing children, led by Abel (John Ales). However, the group isn’t giving Cora what she needs – she’s sick of hearing “We’re all in this together” – so she stops attending.

Then Abel shows up at Cora’s door. He’s not there to coax Cora back to the group, though. Instead, he tells her he was able to bring his little girl back from the dead. If Cora is willing to go through a ritual, she can bring Noah back, too. We learn fairly on that this isn’t a PET SEMATARY scenario, but it’s obvious something is not quite right here.

Director Thomas Marchese and his co-writer Jessub Flower create a strong sense of desperation that drives story and character. It permeates both the emotional tone and the physical environment. The audience may guess at what’s really happening (and what subgenre we’re in) sooner than Cora does, but it still makes for a compelling tale.

Camp, who often plays chipper types, is excellent as the haunted protagonist. Ales is very good as the man who has been where Cora is now, and Hammer find true, if dark, humor in the toxic Wyatt. Lafleur exudes compassion and diligence as Bray. The creature makeup effects by Melissa Ferreira are suitably unsettling.

While we can see where it makes dramatic sense, can films and TV series (farces aside) please retire the trope of having law enforcement personnel officially investigate a case that involves a family member? This sucks reality out of a narrative that already requires some suspension of disbelief.

Also, it’s not one hundred percent clear what the rules are by the finale, which they should be, for us and for the characters. And, even if the filmmakers are not associated with the WGA, the writing credit in the closing crawl should really come before the assistant director credits (come on, folks, you’d have a hard time making this without a script).

Mostly, though, FROM BLACK is effectively moody and disquieting. Additionally, any movie that comes up with such an unusual interpretation of FINDING NEMO deserves a look.

Follow us on Twitter at ASSIGNMENT X
Like us on Facebook at ASSIGNMENT X

Latest Buzz

Movie Review: FROM BLACK

A well-made supernatural thriller

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: Movie Review: FROM BLACK

Related

Related Posts:

Leave a Comment

Assignment X Poll

Newsletter subscription status

Latest Buzz

Movie Review: FROM BLACK

A well-made supernatural thriller

Article Source: Assignment X Article: Movie Review: FROM BLACK

Related

Related Posts:

Leave a Comment

Assignment X Poll

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: Movie Review: FROM BLACK