The Hallow
2015
The Cast
This is a very special horror film... because it's a horror film! This flick really does meet all the criteria of the genre... Secluded house in the woods; Check. Something strange happening in the woods; Check. Monsters of fairy tales and legend; Check. A newlywed couple with a newborn child; Check. Tension to create fear; Check. Atmosphere to give a nice spooky eerieness; Check. Special effects to make you shake and shudder; Check.
The only thing this appears to be missing is a priest and a few teenagers, but hey! I can live without them.
When I read the blurb of the story I knew I had to watch the film. Adam's (Mawle) new job as a woodsman in Ireland's last forest, brings his family to a secluded millhouse. On one of his investigations of the woodland, he comes across the carcass of a dead animal, which has a strange substance growing out of it. Taking a sample, he finds it to be a living organism... one that can destroy it's hosts cells. But before he can make the report other, more violent events occur. At first, he believes it's the locals as they see him as the enemy since he works for the men wanting to pulp the trees. But before long, he and Claire (Novakovic) begin to realise that it's not the locals they need to be afraid of.
The film is beautifully shot and the opening sequence sets the atmosphere for the rest of the movie very well. Though the new family are smiling and looking forward to a prosperous future, the overcast sky gives the feeling of a storm ready to break... things are not going to be sunny for this family. The pace is quite meandering and builds slowly into soft peaks, this has the effect of letting the tension and unease get under your skin. Not just a hack slash and scream film. Along with some strong acting from the cast, it makes the film very enjoyable.
The thing I liked about the characters is their ordinariness. This makes them more believable and easier to relate too. The only actor that appears to go a little over the top is the Police Officer, Garda Davey (Smiley), though I do know people of the same temperament as him so I can overlook it. It's the subtleness of the actor's and actress' portrayals that make this film stronger, especially Mawle, who does a good concerned wonder.
However, there are a few drawbacks. The main one being the creatures themselves. these are meant to be the Fairies and Banshees, etc, of Irish myth. But, to me, they look nothing like you would expect. It would have been nice to see smaller Fairies and screechier Banshees, for a start. But these are minor things, they may have added a strength to the overall film, however, as they are, they don't detract the viewer from the story at all.
If you're a lover of real horror films then this one is for you. It's one I'll be only too happy to watch again... and again...
I give this a Creepy Child Stealing 7.25 out of 10.
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