Post Halloween, I am still catching up with a slew of horror films. New releases Relic (on most digital platforms) and His House (Netflix) are both interesting additions to the genre, offering more depth as well as scares.
In Relic, Edna (Robyn Nevin) disappears from her large, isolated house in Australia. Her daughter, Kay (Emily Mortimer) and her granddaughter, Sam (Bella Heathcote), travel to stay in her home whilst a search takes place. After a few days, Edna reappears but is unwilling or unable to say where she has been. Although a few recognisable horror tropes are deployed, this is more of an examination into the dread of dementia and how it makes the lives of both the person suffering and their loved ones unbearable.
Relic: 8 out of 10
His House tells the story of a refugee couple, Bol and Rial, played by Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Moasak, fleeing from war torn Syria, who are given a run down house to live in whilst their asylum application is considered. However, the house seems to have a sinister link to their past. The first half of this film is the strongest part as Bol and Rial struggle to cope with their new environment as it is more grounded in reality. The latter part, though, descends into something more fanciful and is less creepy because of it.
His House: 6.5 out of 10
As the first lock-down ended earlier this year, Australian creature feature, Black Water Abyss, was able to capitalise of the limited offerings in cinemas to be a minor hit. It is now available to rent at home. A group of friends decide to explore a remote cave system but, of course, they run into a huge and hungry crocodile. There is little to recommend as the characters are cliches, their decisions dumb, and the action poorly staged.
Black Water Abyss: 4 out of 10
A much better bet is #Alive, on Netflix. in a South Korean city, one young man battles for survival as an infection spreads that turns people into zombies. Apart from a half-hearted attempt to satirise consumerism, something that has been done much better elsewhere, this is a fun, tightly plotted movie. There is nothing particularly original, but Il Cho provides more tension than I expected.
#Alive: 7.5 out of 10
If our fanged friends are more your thing, Vampires vs. the Bronx is also on Netflix. As the residents of the New York borough try to resist gentrification, they encounter something even more scary. The setting provides some originality, and this is mostly a nicely unpretentious film for this time of year. However, even with a modest 85 minute run time, it does flag in the latter stages.
Vampires vs. the Bronx: 6.5 out of 10