Written & Directed By: Bomani J. Story
Cinematography: Daphne Qin Wu
Editor: Annie DeBrock
Cast: Laya Deleon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman, Reilly Brooke Stith, Keith Holliday, Amani Summer, Eden Atsu-Swanzy, Ellis Hobbs IV
Vicaria's a brilliant teenager. After the brutal murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to resurrect him.
This is a film I have mixed feelings about. Though I always do when it comes to African Americans in horror. As I love the representation bit it also feels like reinforcing stories and stereotypes of the type of characters and media. They are always caught up in and now add supernatural elements and undead slashers
This is a film that fights against itself in certain ways. It feels like more trauma-inducing horror for characters and a community that has seen enough horrors in life and on-screen in media. This only adds to it
The redeeming qualities it does have a kind of happy Ending and showcasing microaggressions and intelligence as well as a bit of black history is commendable but it does run into certain stereotypes.
By the end what should be a cautionary tale feels like a twisted one where the main character is justified in her actions.
As we watch, we pretty much know what’s going to happen as it goes along as we’ve seen this tale before it just offers different elements and motivations throughout.
It softens the blow, making the main character, a genius teenager, seem not to know any better. so that we can’t get totally mad at her or want her to get somewhat of a come-up as her intentions were pure and not as dastardly. Though for all of her intelligence how she didn’t see this coming, also exposes her naivety.
It offers a story that is definitely coming of age as it shows and revolves around, mostly kids to a certain degree or forced to grow up way too fast as they have to become aware of the danger that is constantly around them and how to maneuver and deal with it in their own ways.
The film offers to have to go through such hardships and pain to finally find a certain piece or get their own happy ending. A more McCobb ambling tale that takes place in a tougher neighborhood with harder upbringings, but does offer an adventure.
Luckily, the film does not get bogged down, and being some kind of revenge thriller it offers up some ideas but still unfortunately comes across as pretty basic at times.
Grade: C
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