Being my favourite genre, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that a new (Neo-) Giallo was going to feature in the online Soho Horror Film Festival, which led to me listening in on a call at night.
View on the film:
Introducing the screening/ stream as a tribute to the Giallo, writer/director Chad Ferrin & cinematographer Kyle McConaghy horrifically completely miss the distinctive marks of the genre, via dumping the caller into jabbing in the eye, over-saturated colours, which grinds across the screen for the entire run time, leaving everything looking like a gooey mash.
Attempting to slice into the Giallo, Ferrin leaves the would-be killer set-pieces lacking any sense of the ultra stylish Gialli glaze, as shaky zoom-ins hit rubbery practical effects, whilst the cast (which includes Bai Ling, who was wonderful in Dumplings 2004-also reviewed) stumble along attempting to ring in a sense of menace.
Initially calling up an intriguing set-up from telephone psychic Carter getting visions of who a regular caller/ serial killer is going to murder next, Ferrin hangs up the tension, and drops any chance of a Giallo mystery, or psychological thrills straight into the bleach, which wipes away any chance of dread being built up between the killer and Carter,as Ferrin appears to be more interested in a terrible transphobic twist ending, when the killer cuts the night call.
View on the film:
Introducing the screening/ stream as a tribute to the Giallo, writer/director Chad Ferrin & cinematographer Kyle McConaghy horrifically completely miss the distinctive marks of the genre, via dumping the caller into jabbing in the eye, over-saturated colours, which grinds across the screen for the entire run time, leaving everything looking like a gooey mash.
Attempting to slice into the Giallo, Ferrin leaves the would-be killer set-pieces lacking any sense of the ultra stylish Gialli glaze, as shaky zoom-ins hit rubbery practical effects, whilst the cast (which includes Bai Ling, who was wonderful in Dumplings 2004-also reviewed) stumble along attempting to ring in a sense of menace.
Initially calling up an intriguing set-up from telephone psychic Carter getting visions of who a regular caller/ serial killer is going to murder next, Ferrin hangs up the tension, and drops any chance of a Giallo mystery, or psychological thrills straight into the bleach, which wipes away any chance of dread being built up between the killer and Carter,as Ferrin appears to be more interested in a terrible transphobic twist ending, when the killer cuts the night call.