As I write this introduction to this review, I'm sitting in my hotel room between screenings on Saturday. I have already watched the next feature film that is playing right now, so I thought I would get the review for #Screamers done, and then catch up on some sleep. Two nights with five hours of sleep just doesn't cut it. Especially when there is a screening at 2 am tonight. I at least wanted to get this review started, but I will likely get it done either Sunday night or sometime Monday (ended up being Tuesday). It just depends on how tired I am Sunday night. Anyway, the second screening I got to watch Friday was for a movie called Pitchfork (2016). This was the world premiere of the film...well, not really, but that is what the program says.
Ben (Daniel Wilkinson) is returning home with a group of friends. Ben is very nervous about returning home because he came out as gay to his parents over the phone while at college. The conversation didn't go well, especially with his dad. They are expected, but Ben isn't sure how things are going to play out. Judy (Rachel Carter) is happy to see her son and his friends. Ben Sr. (Andrew Dawe-Collins) doesn't really act mad towards his son but doesn't exactly welcome him either. Little sister Jenny (Addisyn Wallace) seems to be the happiest that Ben is home again. Ben and his friends plan to throw a big barn dance and get it ready to go. Unknown to them, the dance has attracted someone with a pitchfork for a hand. This person (also played by Wilkinson) starts killing everyone one by one. Can Ben and his friends stop him?
Director Glenn Packard and writer Darryl Gariglio, along with Addisyn Wallace, was on hand for the screening and a short Q&A after. I was pretty impressed with this one. I think it went under the radar for most, as I didn't really hear anyone talking about it later on at the festival sadly. I don't know if it was the intent by the filmmakers, but it felt like an attempt to create a new horror icon. Maybe not, since this was a low budget film. One thing that stood out to me was that it was set out in the country. I'm not sure why since this is hardly the first horror film that does that. In fact, another film that screened the next day was also set in the country, but not in the same way. I guess what made this one stand out was that the location wasn't run down at all. It felt new or at least kept up. It didn't feel like a place where bad things were about to happen. I also liked the characters, most of them anyway. They make sure we get to know Ben enough to make him a likable guy. His friends...not so much. Not that they are terrible people or anything, just not as likable. I did find it strange that Pitchfork only went after Ben's family and friends. I don't think Pitchfork has a personal grudge against Ben. Things get a bit crazier when we meet the people behind Pitchfork. His parents are really out there. During the Q&A, it was said that this story is about child abuse in some ways and that it takes place about five years after the abuse starts. Pitchfork has accepted who and what he is now. What made the story for me though was Ben doing everything he could to fight back. I loved his never say die fighting spirit. In the middle of everything we get a fight between some of Ben's friends when one cheats on his girlfriend, who is Ben's best friend. This actually plays out as the bodies pile up by the characters having to make some tough choices because of what happened between them earlier. It was nice to see a plot point like that have consequences instead of just being there to make the movie a little longer.
The effects in Pitchfork are pretty good and gory at times. Pitchfork looks very cool. I don't think his hand was replaced by a pitchfork but was somehow shaped into one? It was a little hard to tell which it was, but I had to lean into it being shaped that way somehow. I also liked the mask that he was wearing. I didn't know that Wilkinson was playing a double role there, so well done there. There are also effects like knives driven through hands and some good stuff like that, as well as what Pitchfork does to those he kills. The acting was also well done here. Wilkinson does a very good job in the lead role, and I also enjoyed his acting as Pitchfork. Carter and Dawe-Collins were enjoyable as Ben's parents and I also liked Wallace in the little sister role. She went into some detail about spending the night in the makeshift cage that she was put in. She did this to get a feel for what it would be like instead of just doing it during filming. Lindsey Nicole plays the part of Ben's best friend. Others in the film include Brian Raetz, Ryan Moore, Celina Beach, Nicole Dambro, Keith Webb, Sheila Leason and Vibhu Raghave.
Maybe I'm wrong about Pitchfork knowing who he is now. After reading an interview with Wilkinson who said Pitchfork is learning who he is in this movie. Either way, it seems all the actors preferred to be method actors. Like Wilkinson wanted to be treated a certain way while in character as Pitchfork. Personally, I think it shows in the film nicely. The story might seem a bit weird, but it is a well-made film and very well acted. Pitchfork hasn't been on the festival circuit long, so make sure to be on the look out for it. I'm sure it will see a DVD release at some point. Well worth checking out if you get the chance to do so.
4 out of 5 Leave my hands alone, I need them!
Ben (Daniel Wilkinson) is returning home with a group of friends. Ben is very nervous about returning home because he came out as gay to his parents over the phone while at college. The conversation didn't go well, especially with his dad. They are expected, but Ben isn't sure how things are going to play out. Judy (Rachel Carter) is happy to see her son and his friends. Ben Sr. (Andrew Dawe-Collins) doesn't really act mad towards his son but doesn't exactly welcome him either. Little sister Jenny (Addisyn Wallace) seems to be the happiest that Ben is home again. Ben and his friends plan to throw a big barn dance and get it ready to go. Unknown to them, the dance has attracted someone with a pitchfork for a hand. This person (also played by Wilkinson) starts killing everyone one by one. Can Ben and his friends stop him?
Director Glenn Packard and writer Darryl Gariglio, along with Addisyn Wallace, was on hand for the screening and a short Q&A after. I was pretty impressed with this one. I think it went under the radar for most, as I didn't really hear anyone talking about it later on at the festival sadly. I don't know if it was the intent by the filmmakers, but it felt like an attempt to create a new horror icon. Maybe not, since this was a low budget film. One thing that stood out to me was that it was set out in the country. I'm not sure why since this is hardly the first horror film that does that. In fact, another film that screened the next day was also set in the country, but not in the same way. I guess what made this one stand out was that the location wasn't run down at all. It felt new or at least kept up. It didn't feel like a place where bad things were about to happen. I also liked the characters, most of them anyway. They make sure we get to know Ben enough to make him a likable guy. His friends...not so much. Not that they are terrible people or anything, just not as likable. I did find it strange that Pitchfork only went after Ben's family and friends. I don't think Pitchfork has a personal grudge against Ben. Things get a bit crazier when we meet the people behind Pitchfork. His parents are really out there. During the Q&A, it was said that this story is about child abuse in some ways and that it takes place about five years after the abuse starts. Pitchfork has accepted who and what he is now. What made the story for me though was Ben doing everything he could to fight back. I loved his never say die fighting spirit. In the middle of everything we get a fight between some of Ben's friends when one cheats on his girlfriend, who is Ben's best friend. This actually plays out as the bodies pile up by the characters having to make some tough choices because of what happened between them earlier. It was nice to see a plot point like that have consequences instead of just being there to make the movie a little longer.
The effects in Pitchfork are pretty good and gory at times. Pitchfork looks very cool. I don't think his hand was replaced by a pitchfork but was somehow shaped into one? It was a little hard to tell which it was, but I had to lean into it being shaped that way somehow. I also liked the mask that he was wearing. I didn't know that Wilkinson was playing a double role there, so well done there. There are also effects like knives driven through hands and some good stuff like that, as well as what Pitchfork does to those he kills. The acting was also well done here. Wilkinson does a very good job in the lead role, and I also enjoyed his acting as Pitchfork. Carter and Dawe-Collins were enjoyable as Ben's parents and I also liked Wallace in the little sister role. She went into some detail about spending the night in the makeshift cage that she was put in. She did this to get a feel for what it would be like instead of just doing it during filming. Lindsey Nicole plays the part of Ben's best friend. Others in the film include Brian Raetz, Ryan Moore, Celina Beach, Nicole Dambro, Keith Webb, Sheila Leason and Vibhu Raghave.
Maybe I'm wrong about Pitchfork knowing who he is now. After reading an interview with Wilkinson who said Pitchfork is learning who he is in this movie. Either way, it seems all the actors preferred to be method actors. Like Wilkinson wanted to be treated a certain way while in character as Pitchfork. Personally, I think it shows in the film nicely. The story might seem a bit weird, but it is a well-made film and very well acted. Pitchfork hasn't been on the festival circuit long, so make sure to be on the look out for it. I'm sure it will see a DVD release at some point. Well worth checking out if you get the chance to do so.
4 out of 5 Leave my hands alone, I need them!
