FRIGHTFEST 2020 - Anderson Falls

FRIGHTFEST 2020

Julien Seri's Anderson Falls is all over the place regarding its performances, structure and overall execution. From its interesting and engaging opening to its hollow and meandering narrative, Seri's film is as confused and muddled as they come. 

Shawn Ashmore is given a leading role to stretch out and demonstrate his range and the actor does not disappoint. The emotional conviction that Ashmore showcases is often terrific, specifically in the traumatic and intense scenes concerning the energy and anxiety of his character. Ashmore throughout is undeniably the best offering here and, at times, gives a performance deserving of a more celebrated feature. 

Ashmore aside, there is little here to be particularly excited over. The camera work is often ripped from what feels not too dissimilar to a Heat-like aesthetic, with a multitude of birds-eye view camera angles to superficially create atmosphere, and lengthy hollow sequences where the audience is left to flounder watching Ashmore's titular character staring into abyss sat inside his car. Sequences that take up a surprising amount of screentime that ultimately feels wasted. 

However, the two gravest attributes here are the editing and narrative. Both feel as if massive interconnected chunks are missing from the final cut. The result is one long muddled cluster of scenes that not only feel out of place but crafts a dissonant story to the one the film is purported to tell. Backstory is missing with crucial scenes to explain who, what or why these events are occurring. Furthermore, said sequences feel as if they are not missing to craft an organic and profound mysterious thriller, but in fact, a forced and short element to create a form of elevation that does not work.