ROUNDNG (2022)

 

Directed By: Alex Thompson 

Written By: Alex Thompson and Christopher Thompson

Cinematography: Nate Hurtsellers 

Editor: Michael S. Smith 

Cast: Namir Smallwood, Sidney Flanigan, Michael Potts, Rebecca Spence, Charin Alvarez, Nedirah Best, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, David Cromer 

A driven young medical resident transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start. There, the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a young asthma patient.

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This is what I’m thankful for the SHUDDER channel. As even though it’s more devoted to all kinds of horror films, maybe a little sci-fi they are also a channel that seems to welcome foreign films and many different genre of movie that might have a supernatural or horror element to them which ends up with the channel housing a lot of Indie films that might not have necessarily gotten released on other streaming channels. It might leave some of the channels fans who want strictly hard a bit disappointed, but it might also open them up to different films, they never would’ve given a chance to. Like this one

This is a film that again is better off unless you know about it as it’s stronger the more of a mystery it is. 

As it is more of a psychological thriller or psychological drama. About a medical student who after an accident has a breakdown and decides to try to get back on his feet by transferring to a more remote program. Where stress rears its ugly head, especially when it comes to a young woman’s case.

That he decides to investigate and the deeper he seems to get the more disturbed his behavior becomes the more resistance. He comes against where it does become a situation. Where is he the only one seeing this or is it all in his head or is he just getting two clips as the film goes along? We see him slowly unravel where even we aren’t sure if he is a reliable protagonist.

This is a film that has twist and turns, but is not entirely reliant on them to tell the story they just naturally come about and only add to the cold clinical exterior of the film. They eventually becomes devastating.

Namir smallwood really holds his own and truly dazzles as the lead in this film. He give the film gravity and fen be scary when he needs to be.

This is one of those films that is more lower budget and seems like a small story but ends up having a massive impact on the viewer. It does have its fair sheriff scares, but more than anything. It’s uncomfortable and unsettling more than anything else. So special mention must be made of what it manages to achieve with seemingly so little. It truly stays captivating and even a bit gross 

Grade: B-