Splinter

Well, as I said many, many times before, I love horror in absolutely all its forms. Rating them is always based on a few pointers I take in consideration: the year, because those made in the 70s and early 80s are simply incredible and original, the budget, if it's low, like Halloween or big like today's horrors, the star power, the execution, the self awareness, the humor, kill shots, nudity, graphic, sequel status and so on. Here is what I have to say about this Splinter: it's as dull as watching paint dry. Now I've come across this expression a few times regarding some movies, but never did I fully relate to the situation. Yet, for the first time ever, and after 2 beers, I can say that this is understandable, I've seen paint dry, for a few seconds of course, and when it was my work, I actually felt pride in that short period of time. I did not feel anything watching Splinter tho. It is not my work of course, but even if it was, I could only declare this...a first step. The absolute first step in movie making. Horror does offer you the opportunity of making a movie that doesn't recall a big budget, but you have to come up with something better than this. It was not horror, not psychological, no major twist here, just a plain ol' idea that was used 1000 times before. In this one, you can see the big twist coming from a mile away, and even tho the movie is 75 minutes long, I swear I wanted it to end even faster. It's just not worth it sadly, no redeeming elements whatsoever. Cheers!

Impressive low budget horror that skilfuly touches on themes of isolation, grief, and the fragile nature of the mind. Solid direction and strong performances make this a cut above other horror films shot on this kind of budget. It is also a more thoughtful and considered film. Bryant's screenplay displays a gift for writing strong characters with emotional arcs, and Bill Fellows, in particular, carries the film with a powerful and nuanced performance. David Bryant is a filmmaker to watch. This is his 4th feature and after this, he deserves to be given a proper budget, because if this is what he can do on next-to-nothing, what can he deliver with some backing behind him? He is a very talented filmmaker.

Lucky enough to see a sneak peak of this - it a fun film. It's a slow burn but if you stick with it you'll be pleasantly rewarded. Great performances from Bill Fellows as he struggles to cope with what has happened to his family. Lovely to see Jane Asher again and Michael McKell excels as always. The mood is claustrophobic and intense, mazing what David Bryant was able to achieve on a shoe-string budget. The score by Adam Langston is spot on, mixing the emotional with the disturbing. As well as some thrills and scares, this film isn't afraid to deal with bigger issues of depression and the stigma of mental illness. It would make a fun Xmas movie.