Synopsis: (from IMDb) Michael (Peter Cilella) is committed to getting his best friend Chris (Vinny Curran) to sober up and get his life back on track. But what begins as an attempt to save his friend’s life quickly takes an unexpected turn as the two friends confront personal demons, the consequences of past actions, and forces beyond their control.
My Short Review: Brilliant. This is the first word that comes to mind after watching Resolution. But you could probably add mind-blowing, scary, entertaining.
Resolution is the perfect example of Indie Horror with a small budget that relies on a very strong script and perfect casting choices to elevate its material and create an instant classic.
The 2 main leads, Peter Cilella and Vinny Curran, have such a perfect chemistry together that you actually really believe they are childhood friends. The supporting characters are great too, from the indian landlord, the UFO cult members, the crazy lady, the mortgage broker, to the french lunatic in his trailer, everybody adds to the creepiness and eeriness of the situation our heroes are in.
And what a weird situation that is: as the messages keep on coming, we, as the viewers really start to wonder about what is going on here and it’s really unsettling. Each camera shot kept me on my toes wondering what will happen next. The outdoor settings and the fact that most of the events happen during the day add to this sense of unfamiliarity and unease (not your typical haunted house at night). I was literally on the edge of my seat for the last 20mn or so.
I have read some negative reviews complaining about the lack of gore or scares. Those are probably the same people who keep on enjoying such crap as the last Chainsaw Massacre and make the studios rich. The Indie Horror scene is where you might have the chance to find genuine, terrifying movies, such as Resolution. Not much money, but a lot of ideas and guts!
Resolution deserves to be seen by as many movie fans as possible, it’s a clever gem that will leave you crave for more. Can’t wait for what those guys (Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead) have in store next.
My Rating: 8.5/10
Directors: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Year: 2012
Origin: US
