is clearly a horror film — of sorts — that tries hard but largely fails to be the socially relevant take on systemic racism that it sets out to be. Jordan Peele set a very high mark for this subgenre with his Oscar-winningThose movies , while eliciting the required chills of the horror genre, also served as pertinent reminders of the rampant systemic racism still existing after 400 years in America, as well as successfully offering a wickedly satirical POV.
The first 40 minutes or so takes place on a sunny Southern plantation, or so it seems as the movie opens with idyllic scenes of white folks romping around the place. The other dynamic though is soon revealed as vicious slave owners like the unnamed man played by Eric Lange, as well as Jack Huston’s Captain Jasper, basically terrorize their slaves including Eden , Julia and Eli .
After scene after scene of their desperate situation we hear a cell phone ringing off screen. That is the cue to switch to a very different world, the current-day life of Veronica Henley , an academic who is seen tearing a conservative voice to shreds on a TV talk show.
The directing team is known for its game-changing, socially conscious advertising work but they bite off more than they can chew with this feature film debut. It is not a bad idea to blend astyle motif with the down-and-dirty tropes of the horror genre, but the second act excursion to current day is simply off tone, and then the gimmicky ending of the third and final act sinks the whole ship. Actually, this all might have worked as aepisode instead.
Producers are Zev Foreman, Raymond Mansfield, Sean McKittrick and Lezlie Wills as well as Renz and Bush. Check out my video review above with scenes from the film.
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