COBWEB (2023)

 

Directed By: Samuel Bodin 

Written By: Chris Thomas Devlin 

Cinematography: Philip Lozano 

Editor: Kevin Greutert and Richard Riffaud 

Cast: Woody Norman, Cleopatra Coleman, Anthony Starr, Lizzy Caplan 

An eight-year-old boy tries to investigate the mysterious knocking sounds that are coming from inside the walls of his house, unveiling a dark secret that his sinister parents have kept hidden from him.

This film feels like Stephen King because it takes place in what looks like a small town suburb and its primary location for most of the movie is the boy's house now of course adventures outside of it but yeah, that’s a little rare in the film 

That is also the reason why I might be a little bit M night Shymalan as again set in a small town but there by choice. Not to mention the secrets you can hide in plain sight. 

The film has a bit of the vibe of the movie PARENTS, a movie that I don’t think gets enough love. It’s a movie that scared me a lot as a child with the possibility of an overactive imagination and horrors not even contemplated. While through the eyes of a child.

There is a reason it is being called the 2023 version of BARBARIAN, as it reminds you of that film and the others I have previously named this far.

I’m not going to lie here and say that it’s one of the greatest films, but it’s one of those that for me well remembered because it gave you a child’s point of you. It scared the heck out of me as a kid it builds tension slowly, and while it was more of a dark comedy, it did add that element of you’re supposed to trust your parents, but can you in certain times or what is with these mysterious things that they do that might to the world be perfectly innocent but you seem like there’s a deep, dark secret or something wrong is happening. A lot of those same aspects are on display here only stronger and a lot more obvious.

Dealing with parents who are supposed to guide you, but at turns seem evil or even way too mean. Though they say it’s for your own good. Yet keep obvious secrets from you. Then tell you it’s all in your head whatever conspiracy. While your friends not ally is a nice teacher. Who can only help you so much, without l getting in trouble themselves. Though like your parents they are supposed to be your guiding light. Thought at times can be one of the major problems.

As it goes along, you think oh, this is the worst that could happen, then raise the stakes as that it’s like oh another scenario where you think oh now this is the worst that can happen. Then it gets worse again, and so on, and so on. 

It manages a lot in under 90 minutes and that is including the fact that it starts off slow.

This is one of those films you think about more after you watch the film as it stays on your mind.  As while you are watching you are busy reacting.

The film works best the less you know and is scarier when they hint at things instead of completely revealing them. 

Grade: B-