24/07/2024
Water Horse is out now on Blu Ray and DVD in the US and will be available worldwide soon.
THE TRUTH LIES JUST BENEATH, BUT SO DOES SOMETHING ELSE...
KarlMr Geeky's Blog REVIEWS A NEW AUSTRALIAN FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR MOVIE FROM Far From Everything Films and Bounty Films
WATER HORSE is an impressive horror written, directed and produced by award-winning independent filmmaker Jennifer Van Gessel (BEAST NO MORE, MONGREL, and the upcoming gothic horror LANGTON). With this, her second feature film and directorial debut horror fans can expect an entry that sits confidently alongside the best found footage and mockumentary movies.
Over the 25 years since THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT there have been endless imitations and cash-ins. Many failures in grasping the rudimentaries which made it so effective. Yet every once in a while there comes along rarities like this that nail it. Now to be clear the genre is not reinvented, but in ex*****on, WATER HORSE is extremely effective and convincing. Most of all it is creepy, scary, unsettling, and unpredictable, offering something different to many a modern horror. Make no mistake this is no ghost-train ride that trades in cheap jump scares far too prevalent nowadays. If this is what you are looking for you will probably be disappointed. But for those wanting a horror movie of substance that grabs right from the start you are in for a treat.
Dianne Wilson, a paranormal investigator, links a bizarre string of seemingly unrelated events to the disappearance of her mother.
Taking this synopsis at face value one would expect it to be fairly run-of-the-mill. Yet WATER HORSE rises above this by virtue of filmmakers who understand what makes horror, found footage and mockumentaries effective. Combined with this is inspiration in the form of the early movies of Koji Shiraishi, director of NOROI THE CURSE, an acknowledged found footage masterpiece which can be found on Shudder. Nevertheless, even as a similar style is navigated it veers more down the mockumentary route in a striking vein akin to LAKE MUNGO. It is a character piece as much as a mystery puzzle box horror. With each clue there to be found and secrets of the water horse waiting to be unlocked by the audience.
From the unsettling opening shots and set-up, with scenes incorporating real-life, historical footage, and a convincing interview, the tone is perfectly set for the faux documentary that unfolds over the following hour and a half. Much like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and LAKE MUNGO, multiple talking heads and interviews are tellingly employed. All making it feel as if we are watching a true-life documentary. Melding real-world incidents and footage with the fictional, blurring the line in service of a believable narrative that grabs from the first and grips harder as it ever increasingly tightens until the shocking finale.
The strongest aspect in deepening the horror is a primary focus on creating believable and captivating characters within an involving, gripping story. This lends it a slow-burn unfolding peppered with a palatable undertone of ever-escalating, ethereal dread. What becomes immediately apparent is the interest here is far more in drawing the viewer in by way of an expertly realised screenplay that emphasises the human side above everything. The foundation is an engrossing narrative, due in no small part to engaging, well-rounded, fleshed-out characters we care about. Van Gessel is well aware that the audience investing in them makes for an effective horror. Refreshingly the characters do not fall into the trite romantic relationship cliche which can be annoying and frustrating when narratively uncalled for.
The core is the perfect casting of leads Lauren Grimson and Dean Kyrwood. Both are first-class actors who savoured their roles. Playing off each other beautifully they are utterly convincing.
Grimson, as Dianne Wilson, in her first feature lead shows what was only glimpsed in her award-winning supporting role in THE LEGEND OF BEN HALL. Bringing depth, a heart-wrenching sadness, and an uneasy ambiguousness that has us unsure of whether what she feels and believes is caused by trauma or something else.
Kyrwood, one of my favourite actors, delivers outstandingly as Osmond “Oz” Shaw, host of a YouTube show. This is his second feature lead having impressed as dual characters in THE FLOOD (available VOD). Here given a far better showcase as Oz was specifically written for him. Previously he appeared briefly in BEAST NO MORE (available on Amazon Prime as part of the subscription), yet made an impression with limited screen time. Also, he can be seen in the short film NANCY IN HELL (watch for free on YouTube).
Alongside them are Jessica Tovey who was outstanding in BEAST NO MORE and Socratis Otto, who some may recognise from the acclaimed Australian series WENTWORTH (PRISON). Both arresting in small but key roles - quite literally in Tovey's case.
Behind the camera is equally exceptional. The cinematography illuminates each aspect with an inspired application of differing styles and aspect ratios. Uncharacteristically for found footage and mockumentaries it at times contains stunning, melancholic poetic imagery. The documentary style plays out flawlessly in no small part as a result of seamless editing incorporating real-life footage to create an engrossing film that in essence is concerned far more with focusing on character. Sound plays a massive part in the overall mood, entwining and morphing with the score, ending up indistinguishable at times, underpinning the tension, suspense, and horror. Playing over the end credits is the sublime use of In the Mines which is both haunting and moving. Special effects, both practical and CGI are used sparingly to spine-chilling effect. Noteworthy also is the production design, with attention paid to even the smallest detail. Every technical element enriches the human edge, together intensifying the horror right up to the final affecting revelation.
An innate understanding and genuine love of found footage and mockumentary horror can be sensed in every frame, underscoring every aspect and nuance. Particular attention is paid to the use of cameras by the characters making realistic sense and being dramatically appropriate. Something numerous other films fail to adhere to.
At less than 90 minutes, unlike myriad other found footage and mockumentaries, is awash with substance and depth with not one second wasted revealing more with each viewing and containing clues in every detail that together explain the mystery. For that reason among many others it rewards rewatching. However, the runtime for me is far too short as I would have welcomed spending more time with such fully formed characters as Dianne and Oz.
Ultimately a horror movie has to first and foremost, earn investing in the characters, and their stories, and move me on an emotional level; in the case of a rare few getting under the skin and lingering in the mind long after the closing credits end. WATER HORSE unequivocally accomplishes this.
In conclusion, this is a compelling, character-driven, eerie, unsettling, palm-sweating, seat-gripping suspenseful ride with an empathic essence, made with passion and heart ultimately taking its place alongside other found footage movies like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, LAKE MUNGO, and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY as a first-class modern horror.
WATER HORSE IS NOW AVAILABLE VOD IN THE US & UK AND IN THE US ON BLU RAY & DVD. COMING SOON WORLDWIDE
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
https://youtu.be/EZ2c65Chae0?si=_XzEflO5dDi7eipE
To find out more about WATER HORSE both Grimson and Kyrwood talked to The Bloody Asylum during production back in 2020.The article can be read here:
https://mrgeekyblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/26/stars-of-new-australian-horror-film-talk-exclusively-to-the-bloody-asylum/
