WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The ghosts of the past. Apparitions which find their way back into our minds, dredging up choices so often seeped in pain, mistakes, and poor decisions. Buried in the recesses of our inner being, it sometimes only takes one moment, one trigger, to bring it all rushing back. Rachel (Jane Hamlet) confronts such issues while already reeling from the disappearance of her beloved sister, Hope (Hetty Bentley). With few clues to go on and only bare figments of memory about Hope to go by, Rachel’s struggle is increased when under existing pressure by ex-lover and client, Richie (Charles O’Neill), whose own life is in chaos with attempts to arrange an art exhibition key to his success.
Trying to keep Rachel on task, Richie’s behavior with her is erratic and stressed, sometimes borderline hostile and threatening, causing Rachel to retreat deeper into her own tormented, fractured state of being. But then, as if circumstances could worsen any further, a dark image from her past enters the picture in the form of Richie’s former associate, Nicholas (Mark Cornwell). The more Rachel digs trying to locate Hope, the more overtly agitated and mentally drained she becomes while Richie and Nicholas’ backstory is slowly revealed, hiding frightening truths, terrible acts, and current intentions that may or may not hold the keys to Rachel’s search. As the pieces are exposed, Rachel’s grip on reality continues to fray as her own harsh past she wanted left behind also comes to light.
Next, my Mind:
With its slow-burn, meticulously crafted, heady execution and effective combination of mild horror elements intermixed with the mystery/drama foundations, writer/director/producer/cinematographer/editor Daniel A. Finney’s feature length debut effort does make an impression, though this reviewer must admit it may not be for everyone. This type of storytelling takes some patience to digest, which is by no means a bad thing, but those who might be looking for a frenetically paced thriller might end up a little disappointed, as this project isn’t intended nor put together as such. The stark, muted black & white visual stylings establish the atmosphere of the narrative from the start while the blending of flashback/foreshadowing and present time techniques demands that the viewer remain vigilantly attentive throughout, otherwise missing building intensity and integral plot points, culminating in a blunt force finale.
Hamlet delivers a solidly powerful performance in her role as Rachel, giving us the picture of a woman desperate for answers and keys to locate her missing sister while then having to battle the emotional turmoil and internal strife brought about by associated circumstances involved. Her constantly deteriorating condition heightens the story’s underlying mood of menace and enigmatic elements, and Hamlet embodies this conflict well. O’Neill’s Richie is deftly played by the actor, portraying the character whose entire demeanor naturally sparks both doubt and suspicion as to what his true nature and aims are, plus his potential direct involvement with Hope’s disappearance. His profanity-laced tirades and own unpredictable behavior provide perfectly suited antagonistic traits, and O’Neill flourishes in showcasing them. The pair together during many sequences is like pouring gasoline on a fire, burning with tension and explosive fervor.
Supporting turns here are also very much credible here, with Bentley’s Hope being the lynchpin of the whole affair, showing up at key points throughout the proceedings that help put together the larger picture of events transpiring. Cornwell’s Nicholas is played superbly as the haunting face from Rachel’s past, one that truly causes serious upheaval for her, understandably so once revealed as to why. Additional characters are enacted by Gypsy Dowley, Ian Williamson, and Lisa Malam as well. In total, despite the abundance of harsh language this reviewer doesn’t prefer, “BoXed” is a worthwhile view for those who enjoy a slightly more cerebral, fleshed-out approach to writing and presentation, while still getting the underlying intensity of a thriller infused into the greater whole.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
