Horror films aren’t normally my cup of tea. Especially today’s horror films. There’s not much out there that has captivated my attention. Quite frankly, I’m so tired of movies about demons, exorcisms, and ghosts. Yet, if an original idea comes around, I’m totally game for the exciting ride that a quality horror movie can bring to the table.
In comes Honeymoon. The film was a midnighters selection at SXSW, and what a great choice it was. Serving as the debut of director Leigh Janiak, Honeymoon is something a little bit different, and most importantly, very memorable.
We meet happy newlyweds Bea (Rose Leslie – Ygritte in Game Of Thrones) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) who just got hitched and set off for their romantic honeymoon at a lakehouse cabin owned by Bea’s family. It’s supposed to be the romantic getaway of their dreams. You know where this is headed..
Only Honeymoon takes a different approach in its telling of the familiar Hollywood horror trope and is a refreshing watch because of it. It’s a slow burner, a horror film that takes its time revealing what tricks it has up its sleeves.
All seems fine at first, but as the trip continues, more and more odd things start occurring. One night Paul finds Bea wandering naked in the woods. Oddly enough Bea is left with no memory of what brought her out there, but she has mysterious bruises to show for it. Soon Bea starts acting weirder and weirder as the days pass, acting totally (and almost deliberately) oblivious to what is happening. There’s also a mysterious couple (played by Ben Huber & Hanna Brown) working at restaurant near by, both of which are acting just as odd as Bea is, only making Paul that much more paranoid. Paul begins to lose his mind, becoming nearly as crazy as his wife is.
Janiak’s direction is sublime and often beautiful; using nature and creative shots to wonderfully capture the moments shared between two lovers. If Terrance Malick directed a horror film, it would have been Honeymoon. The first thing you’ll take away from the film is the elegant cinematography and the mesmerizing score. All of these elements pull you into its addicting orbit, confined to their time and space.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire run time, genuinely concerned about the fates of these characters. Yes, that’s right. I actually cared for the fates of characters in a horror film. Credit to the screenwriting team of Janiak and Phil Graziadei, who take their time building a well rounded pair of characters. It’s a rare feat in the genre these days, something not to take for granted.
As I said before, Honeymoon is a bit of a slow burn, but once it gets going it hits you hard with some genuine gross outs and creepy scenes. I don’t know if the payoff was totally worth it, but when you’re looking at a horror film so damn well made, I’m more than willing to forgive the minor shortcomings that the film has.
Go see Honeymoon whenever it eventually comes out. It’s a refreshing course of horror film that should influence every aspiring director of the genre to up their game.
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