Disturbing, terrifying and creepy the film Amnesiac takes you into the unknown much like an episode from The Twilight Zone. Now on home video the movie takes you into a mystery that has some cool twists. Even though the movie lags while attempting to keep you in the dark, the eeriness and strange pace of Director Mia Barron’s film is just what the doctor ordered for a darkened room with you a friend and your DVD player.
Three people are traveling down a winding road in a hurry to get somewhere. The woman (Kate Bosworth) looks a little concerned yet delighted, while her husband (Wes Bentley) keeps glancing over his shoulder while driving to see if the pre-teen (Olivia Rose Keegan) in the back is okay. In a flash the young lady screams and then a crash.
The man wakes up in the hospital with the woman happy that he’s conscious after two days. She explains to him that he had severe head trauma and may have memory loss. Now in their home she waits on him making sure he’s taking his medication and eating right. The man doesn’t seem to know the woman or so he says and explanations to his questions are not being given.
It’s the beginning of a tale so weird and twisted that you’ll want to see it twice and you can by just pressing rewind. The second time I might add becomes better than the first realizing where you missed the clues to the sordid mystery. Director Michael Polish (Big Sur) moves the film along at a snail’s pace feeding his audience bits and pieces and holding back most everything for a final twist. He’s as crafty as the script working a small number of characters into the plot to keep the audience in the dark. That’s what makes the movie a good creepy tale much like those in The Twilight Zone.
The acting by Bosworth gives the film a touch of bizarre keeping the audience off balance on whether she’s the man’s real wife or someone keeping him for her own special reasons. She delivers a character that’s a bit psychotic, overbearing at times and very mysterious for sure. When things start to unravel as the police start coming around, she turns into a woman scorned.
The performance by Wes Bentley as the man who’s driving the car and now in a state of amnesia is very good. I like that he’s always off guard, immobile a times and dubious of all things around the house that’s now his prison. He doesn’t quite know what to make of the woman who’s constantly tending to his needs and feeding bits of information that he has no choice are credible.
Amnesiac has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains violence, gore, language and sexual inferences. It’s the kind of spooky film that takes bits from other films and uses a good measure of fresh plot. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the DVD as it does have some scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents.
FINAL ANAYLSIS: A good film for a spooky night and your favorite libation. (B-)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Kate Bosworth, Wes Bentley, Olivia Rose Keegan, Shashawnee Hall, Richard Riehle, Mia Barron
Director: Michael Polish (Big Sur)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains violence, gore, language and sexual inferences
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Running Time: 1 hr. 24 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: August 14, 2015
Video Release Date: October 6, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD (also available in Blu-ray)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Enhanced for Widescreen TV’s, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: CC
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: XLrator Media
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
