As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
There's something refreshing about going into a film sight unseen. Watching the story unfold with no knowledge of the plot or anything about what's to come. These days there is so much information available at all times, that avoiding potential spoilers about anything is nearly impossible. That's what makes my task as a reviewer for The Creepercast one of subdued passion. I'm given an assignment of what to watch and I close my eyes and jump. Very rarely will I seek out information on the film ahead of time. I want to see it as it was intended. A journey into the film makers vision of what he or she saw the story to be. Granted, that journey doesn't always end up being a pleasant one, but in the case of 'The Lullaby' (2018) it turned out to be one that I never saw coming. This was clearly a film that director Darrell Roodt wanted to elevate above all of the other genre fare that's being made these days. With 46 credits already to his name, he's had quite the distinguished career already. One that I didn't even realize, until I began my research after the credits rolled. Dabbling in almost every type of film genre you can think of, this is just another feather in his cap of eclectic film making. Written by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo, a relative newcomer, the two created something that felt very fresh and unique. A simplistic story, that had a deep history behind it and that carried a heavy load, while making it all look very easy. Needless to say, I was hooked from the very beginning and had no idea what lay ahead, as I bought the ticket and took the ride. Before you read any further, I recommend that you consider what I've already said and perhaps seek out the film before learning too much about it. Not that I'm one for providing spoilers of any kind, but I don't want to taint your film going experience in any way. With all of that being said, we forge ahead.
The story begins in 1910, as we get a truncated history of the town called Eden Rock. A place where infants born out of violence and hatred, are murdered rather than be condemned. Fast forward to the present as Chloe (played by Reine Swart) is giving birth to her own child. One that has no father and Chloe's only support system is her broken mother, Ruby (played by Thandi Puren). It soon becomes crystal clear that Chloe is having issues coming to terms with being a single mother and there are some secrets that she's buried deep within herself. As the following days unfold, Chloe is doing her best to adjust to her new role as a mother. Meanwhile, her own mother is using a method of tough love to force her daughter into becoming a caretaker for her own child, Liam. Chloe begins to have visions of a woman in black, who whispers things in her ear and is terrorizing her every move. Along with those visions are those of her killing her own child. She feels like her sanity is beginning to unravel, as her mother seeks help in the local psychiatrist, Dr. Timothy Reed (played by Brandon Auret). A rather curious character himself, Dr. Reed seems as interested in the human condition as he does his butterfly collection. He soon takes Chloe on as a patient and attempts to help her overcome her personal demons and fear of motherhood, but are the visions she's witnessing truly all in her head or is the woman in black all too real?
The initial thing that you notice about 'The Lullaby', even within the first 15 minutes, is how beautifully done the cinematography is. The sweeping camera angles, the color palette and the use of the minimal spaces in which the actors have to live and breath. The sets become as much of a character as the actors themselves. They almost inhabit the world as an extension of the story line. This allows are actors the freedom to delve deeply into their characters and flesh out the intricacies that make them all too human. Darrell also takes full advantage of the use of a basic score to underline the lurking dread in the darkness. You almost feel as though you're a fly on the wall, witnessing the slow descent into madness that Chloe is feeling. You almost don't know who the real antagonist is. Could it be the woman in black? Is it Ruby or even Dr. Reed? For all, we the viewer know, it could be that this is all just something within Chloe's mind. A hyper realized version of post postpartum depression that has materialized in the form of a ghost like apparition. This is all something that ultimately is left up to the viewer to decide, as the ending is relatively ambiguous and almost a bit of a dissatisfier. In this day and age, so much of what we see on the big screen is spoon fed to us with lengthy diatribes and long winded exposition that we forget the simple joy of just not knowing. In a way, that's a welcome change to the status quo, but in another it felt a little unfinished. I almost wanted some kind of explanation or closure on the film. Perhaps so I could leave it knowing one way or the other if what I had just witnessed was reality or delusion. Sadly, this was not Darrell's desire. Instead, we're left with more questions than answers and despite my intense curiosity to know.... I have to respect the director's ultimate vision for his film.
'The Lullaby' was a literal breath of fresh air among all of the meat grinder horror that seems to be coming out these days. I don't mean that there aren't good things that are making their way into our living rooms and movie theaters, but it just feels that a lot of it is all just 'film by committee' and not film making for the pure joy of creating something all your own. With this particular film, it felt like everything was in alignment and all the parties involved wanted to make something different. Even if there were elements of things we've seem many times before, it certainly didn't feel that way. All of the actors brought their 'A' game and provided a meaty groundwork in which everyone else could shine. I have to specifically give a large heaping of praise to Brandon Auret for his portrayal of Dr. Reed. He embodied that role and commanded your attention, whenever he was on the screen. I didn't know whether to love him or to hate him. All I knew was that he was incredibly engaging and was a stand out among stand outs. If I have to pick apart anything about this film, it was the eventual reveal of Liam's father and the subsequent events that took place after involving Adam. I understood why it was necessary as a catalyst to drive the 3rd act into the finale, but something about it all fell flat to me. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the ending was somewhat oblique and confusing. Again, I'm picking apart what was ultimately a solid piece of film making, but this had the potential to be even more than it already was. If I was to rate this film based solely on the performances of the actors and the cinematography, it's a solid 4 out of 5 star film. However, because of some of the decisions made in the 3rd act, it began to fall apart at the seams a bit. In the end, it was a strong 3 out of 5 star film. Something I would certainly recommend. My hope is that if this is what South Africa has to offer us, in terms of film making, that they continue to export more films to the US. We need this type of shot in the arm to the horror world. Our genre has relished far too long on the fringes of what society deems as art. This is one of the many recent examples of what the rest of the world will hopefully see and take to heart. Horror isn't just a type of pornography based in violence, but can be a way to exorcise the demons that inhabit all of us and take us out of the horrors of the modern world. Maybe they can see that it even can serve as a mirror to show us who the real monsters are.... mankind.
"The Lullaby" in theaters and On Demand 3/2
If you like this, maybe consider seeing: 'Spring', 'Contracted' and 'Starry Eyes'
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