Carrion

Screenwriter and director Michael Zaiko Hall is interested in aesthetics, coolness, beauty, and conveying strong emotions rather than shooting intelligible content. By the time terror kicked in, halfway in, I forgot I was watching a horror movie. Needless to say, the gore hit like a ton of bricks. The once soothing and contemplative experience got compromised, taking me out of my comfort zone. The women in the lead are gorgeous, which should be mentioned considering it sums up the whole film. Carrion has tremendous depth and what I perceive as layers, though I must admit I didn't understand half the story. I hope it makes sense to the creator so I can investigate further, assuming that answers can be found. It's effective surrealism, nonetheless, and it makes us feel alive. Carrion has the kind of editing that takes getting used to and adds complexities to the narrative. The editing may not rub everyone the right way, but it certainly wasn't neglected. Every aspect of this movie feels experimental, but the quality makes it all worthwhile. The danger, with Carrion, is to have trust in its polish and be led to believe it is a better film than it is. Steve Hutchenson.

Usually when a film has polarized reviews, I see this as a sign that there's something good about it that most people just aren't getting. But not this time. While the story idea has merit, the acting, script, and direction are all just so far below par that I have to throw my lot in with the low reviewers. I love horror so much that I'm very tolerant of flaws. But this was just bad, bad, bad.

When you use "I'm a movie director" as a pick up line... don't actually put the women you're trying to get with in your movie if you are indeed a movie director. That's the only way I can imagine this movie being made. Pretty girls, terrible acting and an atrociously bad movie that jumps around so much you can't even follow it.

This film could be a little confusing if you do not commit the time/attention to studying it carefully. It has elements of noir and perhaps a little David Lynch (especially with the sci-fi planet imagery toward the end), but most of all it is 70s/80s style horror tried and true. The pacing, the cinematography, the confused characters, and slasher themes abound, making this something to cherish for a very specific type of cinema-goer, and perhaps somewhat of an acquired taste to others. Things might become clearer on repeated viewings; they may not. Nonetheless, it is a film that draws you in, slowly, subtly, magically -- until you're fully prepared (though also probably wholly NOT), for the wham-bam-thank-you-Carrie-Anne-over the top ending, with the man in the bird suit (or was he a ghost or a machine, or a ghost in the machine??) providing endless scares, thrills, and chills! I'm clearly very excited about this movie -- OBSESSED, POSSESSED even! Why can't they make more films like it? Why don't films like this get theatrical runs anymore...one can only wonder and hope...like Carrie Anne at the climax of this CREATURE-SHOCKER!! Will there be a sequel? One can only hope....

But I couldn't get pass that terrible acting in the 1st 5 minutes. The convo by the fire gave the whole movie away. Basically, I knew from the acting that the next hour, or so, was gonna get worse. I stopped and had to read reviews, and the 2.8 ratings said it best. It looks colorful, and the women are pretty, but their acting, within the 1st 5 minutes, insulted my intelligence.

My biggest complaint about this film is the acting. The lead actress is decent, but the others are often unconvincing when delivering their lines. If you can look past that, it's a fun B-movie with gorgeous visuals and a clever twist ending. At ~72 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome either. The strongest element of this film is its visual appeal. While many things about "Carrion" feel low-budget, the cinematography and editing are excellent. I see that the director is an experienced visual effects artist and it really shows here. The plot is a bit sparse, or shall we say impressionistic. This movie is more focused on creating a feeling and a visual experience rather than a rich narrative. I would have given the plot a thumbs down, but I think the twist in the final act redeemed it for me. I didn't find it scary, but it was fun and quirky. Another reviewer compared this movie to the work of Panos Cosmatos and that seems fair. I think "Beyond the Black Rainbow" is a better movie overall, but if you enjoyed it then I'd recommend giving "Carrion" a try.

What is with the delivery of the dialogue. I'm intrigued by it. Was it direction or just terrible acting? Both? And the changing of aspect ratios... jesus

Good plot idea. Some decent acting on the girls' part. This movie would be a decent attempt at a school of the arts film but the director forgot one thing... a movie is supposed to be good, not just artsy.