Resolution, 2012.
Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead.
Starring Peter Cilella, Vinny Curran, Zahn McClarnon, Kurt David Anderson and Bill Oberst Jr.
SYNOPSIS:
Peter (Michael Danube) receives a strange email from a lifelong friend, Chris (Vinny Curran), a loser drug addict whose serious addiction problems have alienated him from his friends and family. Peter decides to stage an intervention, but supernatural forces interfere.
At first glance, this indie horror seems the perfect vehicle for a genuinely creepy and uncomfortable movie experience, but after a promising opening few minutes it fails to materialise. I can honestly say that I have never been so bored by a horror movie in all my life. Usually, even with bad horror films, something will creep me out, make jump or me have me sitting there in suspense waiting for some ungodly horrible sight on the screen. With Resolution I got none of that – I was simply bored throughout. Resolution is devoid of any suspense, creepiness or unease and there are several reasons for this.
Firstly, there is a complete lack of any soundtrack, which is an essential piece to any genuine toe-curling horror story. As a viewer you will normally be unaware of it, but the pace and the noise of a good soundtrack will only enhance the atmospheric setting on the screen. The fact that Resolution has nothing leaves only the visuals to convey dread and fear, and the film simply doesn’t do it well enough. With no soundtrack the poor performances from the cast are highlighted, specifically Vinny Curran’s Chris. At no point does he come across as drug-addled scrounger who will die unless his friend intervenes. The viewer simply can’t identify why Peter would want to help Chris. There is nothing sympathetic or good about his character for him be worth saving – he’s just an obnoxious, unlikeable selfish swine who can’t get off the screen quick enough. I wondered at times whether the character would be suited to a below par comedy, but even then I wouldn’t want to watch.
This is an indie film, but I don’t find that excuse enough for dull and unimaginative sets. Most of the action takes place in a room with a dirty mattress on the floor and a wooden wall for a background, and there really is no reason for it. I understand that Chris is squatting, and has no money, but the audience needs something to hold their interest, and there’s very little here to achieve that.
Resolution fails as a horror story and as a movie. I was neither scared nor interested in what was happening due to a combination of substandard acting, an uninteresting plot, dull visuals and being unable to relate to either of the main characters. Your time is best spent watching something else.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Andy Naylor – Follow me on Twitter
Originally published June 24, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
