1BR (2019)

 

Written & Directed By: David Marmor

Cinematography: David Bolen 

Editor: David Marmor, Rich Fox And Anna Rottke 

Cast: Nicole Brydon Bloom, Giles Matthey, Taylor Nichols, Alan Blumenfeld, Naomi Grossman, Celeste Sully, Clayton Hoff, Susan Davis

When Sarah lucks into a sweet one-bedroom at Asilo Del Mar Apartments in Los Angeles, she thinks she's hit the jackpot. It's got plenty of space, friendly tenants, group BBQs, and even a cute neighbor next door. All is not what it seems: loud noises start keeping her awake at night; her cat is missing; everyone seems to be a little too helpful and friendly, except for the weirdo, Lester. Soon, Sarah learns she didn't choose this apartment - It chose her.

This film is short. It might’ve been more effective as a short, but I don’t know if it could’ve made it or been felt as deeply if it was a short short. 

As you get a little more backstory and understand how everything works more.

The film is interesting though it’s never quite strong enough. The premise is strong, but it feels here. They try to do more hands-off presentations and try to be more psychological and subtle, which does work as more of the scares psychologically physically. 

There are scenes of violence. It seems the territory they’re trying to mental rather than going for shocks or anything that could be seen as exploited.

One of the hurdles, the film never quite gets over is how bland and basic the film feels no matter what happens as one can understand that it wants to be more subtle. No, the film feels like it needs to have more life in it. 

Even as you were talking about a certain subject that is played a little bit more clinical it doesn’t feel like it has that much of a spirit.

Though it keeps your interest up until the end and makes the mistake of trying to be shocking or at least add a new shock in each act, which then pushes it into overkill, also helps the film to keep the viewer interested as if it didn’t it would pretty much almost be a drama with some extremes.

Again, this feels more like the type of film that feels part of a yearly Halloween anthology or could easily be an episode of an American horror story except without as much sensationalism. It could’ve said the same thing in a shorter time. 

By the end, you can’t say that the film is bad as it has plenty of promise that it just falls short of truly fulfilling, but there are great ideas and decent acting throughout. Once the filmmakers get a little more season could really give the audience more of a run for their money.

Grade: C