Indie Film Review “The Grove” Drama, action, horror, and sci-fi merge with both mainstream and indie flare
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Pushing it to the limit. Under normal circumstances, it might be seen as something to aspire to when we find ourselves desiring to excel to maximum potential in a given goal. To be able to say we not only accomplished it but took it to another level is a badge of honor, that gain that can even come to define us. However, when the achievement in question is founded on means that are actually far less than ethical, much less not remotely safe for those involved, the ensuing results could end up anything but beneficial.
For special ops soldier Terrence “TJ” Johnson (Acoryé White), his return home seems perfectly needed and wholly amicable for all involved, including his fiancé Alice (Psalms Salazar), best friend Chris (Carl Anthony Payne II), and Chris’ girlfriend Imani (Guxci). But, when they all choose to go on a lake house vacation, events turn into anything but friendly on multiple levels, especially when the specters of a secret, manipulative, terrifying process TJ has gone through involving Dr. Jane (Haley Sims) come calling and are unleashed. In the end, will anyone make it out alive?
Next, my Mind:
Everything has its beginnings. This is an indisputable fact when applied to storytelling, the ability to weave a tale that finds its legs with building intent, ultimately leading you to a point of absolute finality, and that may, or may not, provide a definitive conclusion to the events depicted. Here, it is the latter notion that is on display through the 95-minute independent feature film from writer/director/executive producer/editor Acoryé White, writer/director/executive producer Patrycja Kepa, producers Kirk Riley, Charles Bridwell, Chris Brewster, and Ezekiel Ajeigbe, along with executive producers David Walton, Tru’Kessa Scott, Nelson Barnes Jr., Daryl Harris, David Wang, Sven Mesihovic, Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Ryszard Kepa, Beata Kepa, and Kena Anderson. A keenly executed, narrative-driven, genre-blending mix of character drama, action, horror/thriller, and sci-fi, this project firmly stands for what indie cinema is all about.
Brought forth with an initially, overall slow burn approach that utilizes flashbacks to instill a tangibly progressing sense of tension and revelation forming the cornerstone of its purpose, the story sees a recently returned spec-ops solider attempting to both re-enter the joys of his post-deployment life and what the future can hold while making every attempt to hide a dark, menacing secret from those he cherishes most, even as events begin to transpire that will bring forth his worst fears….to the detriment of anyone who finds themselves in the way of his rage-infused haze of genetically altered violence. Truthfully, the primary underlying gist of all that we witness as a viewer creates a conclusively cautionary exploration of humans becoming the lab rats for government funded experimentation and tenaciously unscrupulous researchers who only wish to manifest that which is supposed to be of benefit that turns instead into a living nightmare.
Now, let’s also be frank about the fact that this concept is by NO means something that hasn’t been examined in many a form in cinematic efforts, and so to say this film is wholly original wouldn’t really be completely authentic to state. However, do NOT let this draw you away or cause you to pass over the project, as at least for this critic, there is enough baseline, multi-genre entertainment to be had here as only independent film provides. There’s a very solid level of visually impactful special effects that aid in making the more fantastical sci-fi elements involved engaging while still relying on practical effects for other facets that provide equal aesthetic punch. Both combined let the film be as grounded as it can be, hence lending itself to character and narrative development without us being distracted by an overt amount of CGI that can take over a film if used too much as it is. When visuals ARE key, the action sequences are visceral and intense as they should be.
We are wishing to focus ON the path being taken by the characters, while still offering plenty of illustrations about the disastrous consequences and aftermaths of science yet again gone wrong in the name of “improvement”, more so when it comes to the also commonly portrayed realms of the military complex and leadership that always pursues the ability to dominate all others on the battlefield. Placing this into the context of secrets and relational turmoil that is likewise dramatic, even comedic at times, is what perhaps gives this film its indie edge. You must have the desire to absorb the events, to permit the ebb and flow to REACH the stage of explosive action (which is lightly touched upon throughout) but finds its home primarily in the third act. As declared earlier….the finale conveyed only signals the START of more to come, which I personally found to be a relief in that I WANTED more. This is set up wonderfully and we even get an on-screen promise about what is yet to arrive in the future.
White has an interesting part to play here in that his character must be a regular guy AND a (somewhat) involuntarily “caged” monster contained within the same role through his performance as TJ, a special forces soldier only wishing to live a calm, peaceful life with his soon-to-be-wife and friends, even in spite of a ominous secret he wishes to keep under wraps. Even as what he has chosen to endure haunts him yet manages to remain controlled, what starts as a mostly pleasant weekend away turns into a series of small occurrences that brings about a transformation he didn’t want unlocked. Once it gets to that stage, there’s NO control or recognition he will have except to showcase the beast within, to the peril of every other person present, even as those attempting to keep him constrained until their purposes require more drastic measures struggle to bury the issue. It’s a steady, energetic, and ultimately (literally!) ferocious performance White provides, exuding the inner turmoil his character is battling while subsequently going all-out when things get decidedly OUT of control.
Salazar is Alice, TJ’s deeply doting and understanding fiancé who does anything and everything she can to show him the support he needs coming home from the latest assignment he’s been away on. Looking towards their future happiness, little does she realize that there’s far more to his situation than she ever knew….and it could spell danger and disaster on multiple levels as their weekend away goes awry. Payne II is Chris, TJ’s best friend and fellow solider who has known about the goings on at the facility TJ has been at, even as he attempts to keep a side business going to “help” them out as they both seek to advance their family plans. Yet, Chris’ awareness of TJ’s actual plight stays between them, again unbeknownst to Chris that things are about to get wildly out of hand personally and otherwise on trip they are trying to enjoy. Sims is Dr. Jane, the current “mastermind” behind the experimental machinations she represents and that has turned TJ into what he is. As she also watches things spiral, will her own attempts to keep things covered up be successful, or spell her end like has almost occurred in the clandestine program’s past?
Guxci plays Imani, Chris’ girlfriend who seems to be wishing that he would take things in their relationship to the next level, pushing him while still trying to show him the affection he wants. Even as the weekend trip unfolds, new stresses emerge when another of Imani’s friends she invited of her own accord happens to be an ex. As interpersonal circumstances escalate, Imani becomes one more person who doesn’t realize the degree of unsettledness things are about to get to. Primary supporting roles arrive first through Jolena Wu as Mia, Anuschka van Lent as Sophie, Jesus Venegas as Victor, Alestair Shu as Kai, and Graham Edmonds as Brock, the five party-centric friends of Imani’s whose arrival is a surprise to everyone else BUT her, and who will end up causing plenty of intentional and unintentional chaos that soon boils over in ways none of them may end up living through! Chloe Sirbu is Kayla, a research assistant to Dr. Jane who certainly ends up with her reservations about the program being pursued. Ethan Melisano and Lucky Johnson are fellow soldiers involved with the program in ways that become very evident and necessary in Dr. Jane’s eyes as the situation at hand grows ever more volatile.
While I wish I could get into each individual actor’s performances, ensemble casts are more for me about their chemistry as a cohesive unit, and I will definitively state that the main group above all deliver perfectly apropos performances for the roles they embody with poise and emotive bravado. Additional, and also adept, supporting turns come through Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Joe Anthony Gordon, Jp Lambert, Kena Anderson, Jamie Dingle, KT Goodwin, Larry J. Ferrell, Elaina Guidry, Jennifer Vo, Tripp Bryant, Robyn Evette Davis, and Kirk Riley. So, in total, “The Grove” legitimately presents itself like a mainstream outer shell beating with a totally indie pulse at its center, providing the bombast of Hollywood-style action while still possessing a story-guided heart that promises more is on the way. It will be a fascinating exercise in watching a filmmaker’s growth when the next installment arrives, which is also what makes giving indie film a chance so worthwhile and exciting to take in.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
