Damien LeVeck's second film, “A Creature Was Stirring,” presents a marked change from his debut, “The Cleansing Hour.” In the latter, LeVeck exhibits impeccable instincts, crafting a polished and chilling exorcism thriller that stands out as one of Shudder's standout original releases of 2020. The same finesse doesn't carry over to "A Creature Was Stirring," however, as it ambitiously explores various subgenres with a scattershot approach. While LeVeck's bravery is evident through the risks he takes, the film's overall lack of coherence works against him.
In this dark Christmas-themed horror, Chrissy Metz takes on the role of Faith, a seemingly single mother, holed up with her daughter Charm (Annalize Basso) during a deadly blizzard. The narrative introduces intriguing elements, such as Charm's mysterious affliction and Faith's disturbing past linked to drug addiction. Faith's bedroom serves as a makeshift laboratory, displaying her nursing experience through scribbled notes and bubbling beakers. As chilling circumstances unfold, Faith's demons are compounded by the intrusion of religious travelers, played by Scout Taylor-Compton and Connor Paolo.
Director: Damien LeVeck
Writer: Shannon Wells
Stars: Annalise Basso, Scout Taylor-Compton, Chrissy Metz
The plot weaves psychological chills, creature emotions, and family dysfunction, attempting to provide a commentary on the spectrum of addiction. The film addresses the question of whether Faith is keeping Charm imprisoned against her will, a mystery that both the invading characters and the audience must unravel. However, the film's multifaceted narrative, filled with teenage angst and medication regimens, sometimes struggles to maintain suspense, with subplots distracting and diverting attention from the central conflict.
Despite attempts to infuse the film with Christmas cheer through Christmas accents and decorations, technical aspects such as cinematography and special effects reveal budgetary limitations. The creature itself, symbolizing Faith's addiction, appears with the allure of '80s silliness, but is hampered by costuming limitations. The performances, while occasionally showing moments of depth, are stunted by an overall lackluster atmosphere, with scenes often coming across as melodramatic rather than compelling.
At its core, “A Creature Was Stirring” is a dark Christmas horror that fails to fully embrace the Christmas spirit. LeVeck's direction lacks precision and the script's ambitious changes lack consistency. While the film's ideas may be commendable on paper, its execution leaves a lot to be desired. The Christmas thriller, for all its mediocrity, is a poignant mix of disparate elements that fails to coalesce into a satisfying conclusion.
Comments
Post a Comment