WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
When hopelessness and despair are present, most often in the wake of unforeseen tragedy or loss, saying we always make the right choices would be a lie. If pain and heartache dictate our mood, alternatives presented to remedy it might not be the best, even when intentions are certainly founded in solid principal. Then again, maybe that isn’t the case either when the source sought after to correct a state of grief only begets ill portents. Senka (Dylan Quigg) is reeling from such a conflict, both outwardly and internally, as she watches the love of her life, Jonas (Jener Dasilva), appear to her on a brand new day. Strangely perplexed, but not able to totally put a finger on it, Jonas seems like his normal self.
Yet, only known to Senka, a pall rests upon their small, suburban home which has now become much more than just their residence. A decision made in desperate sorrow has brokered a deal with an otherworldly evil, Amis (Christian Wennberg), who now inhabits the home, lurking in the ominous shadows that creep like a living thing, enveloping the house, and signaling to a now-tormented Senka that the dwelling, her life, Jonas’ state of being, and the future now belong to a much darker world. With nosy neighbor Rain (Kinsey Diment) and her husband Wilhelm (Talmage Tidwell) to deal with plus Amis’ ongoing presence and calmly menacing words reminding her of a pact signed and sealed, Senka’s frustration mounts as she still strives for the happiness she’s dreamed of.
However, with another spectre from the recent past, Samuel Collins (Marc Carlis), haunting them as well, it is only a matter of time before everyone involved discovers the real cost of another’s deal with the devil, one that no one will ever forget.
Next, my Mind:
As this reviewer has often said, films contained within the horror genre are typically not in the wheelhouse, especially when certain thematic elements are involved due to personal preferences. Normally, I would say this is the case here. However, director Aditya Vishwanath, along with writers Raj Jawa and Kuber Kaushik, actually manage to pull off something unique with their feature-length effort–create an effective and engaging character drama, add its horror-based supernatural elements, then mix it all together to create what is truly more of a morality/cautionary tale than straight-up horror. Adapting its fundamental foundation via establishing the key elements of the plot straight away, viewers get immersed in the lead character’s conundrum with purpose and creepily executed resolve, while the steady, uncomplicated cinematography and SFX whisk us through the realities faced that have turned a normal life into an actual living hell. Add to this some clever twists and a gut punch finale worth staying around for, it’s a true surprise of a film to say the least.
Quigg takes on her role as Senka with poise and meaning, embodying a young woman first robbed of her joy, provided a way back to “happiness”, then dealing with the regret of what price is actually paid for the chosen path she’s now set on forever. Watching the range of turmoil the character goes through is interesting in that Senka starts out with a demeanor of hope, but slowly slides into a downward spiral of numbness and realization as she experiences the ramifications of diabolical dealings. Dasilva effectively plays Jonas as, ultimately, the puppet to events he is, waking from one harsh actuality to what only becomes a brand new one tainted with sinister aftereffects he may or may not even realize are occurring until its too late. The pair together work well in their dual scenes, showcasing two people simply wanting things to be normal and carried by their love for one another. Wennberg is very solid as the source of all troubles, Amis, a creature born of wickedness, dishonest ambitions, and eerily composed ominousness that comes upon his own crisis of loyalties when it comes to Senka.
Equally strong supporting turns are provided by Diment as the unequivocally intrusive, though well-meaning Rain, Tidwell as her virtually non-speaking husband Wilhelm, and Carlis as both human punching bag and integral catalyst to the entire narrative. Overall, “Shadows Fall” is an unexpectedly potent, cerebral, chilling, and accessible indie effort that warrants a look from both fans and non-fans of the horror genre, being a film striving to eclipse both, while providing one indelible lesson in what not to seek in times of distress!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
