Arrow Video, out now

 

Finding herself the victim of a violent monster attack, Jane launches a vigilante campaign to hunt the beast that tried to kill her. 

Writer-director Gia Elliot’s debut movie absolutely knows what its targets are – the allegory is on the nose – it’s just a shame that the denouement is unbelievable and derails most of the good that has come before it.

Jane (a commendable performance by Emma Fitzpatrick) is on a high. Her artwork is the subject of an exhibition, and it’s time to celebrate. But when she helps a wasted fan get to a cab, she finds herself locked out in a bad part of town. She’s then attacked by a malevolent black entity that beats and cuts her. While she’s initially looked after by the police, once her prior misdemeanours are noted, she’s no longer regarded as a credible witness. Even her lawyer sister struggles to believe what actually happened that night. In an act of desperation, Jane goads the monster to attack her again, but under the gaze of her social media followers.

It’s an interesting idea, and even though the monster is a bit low-rent X-Files monster of the week, Fitzpatrick sells the injuries to us. Not so much feminist, it’s a female film, with the only male character being a horny conquest in the bathroom. This means that when the police don’t believe Jane, it’s never a question of sexism, it’s woman to woman conflict. So, what a shame to report that I just don’t believe the conclusion or the coda. If you know, you know.

Arrow’s disc features an audio commentary by Elliot and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, as well as visual essays by film critics Cerise Howard, Justine Smith and BJ Colangelo, theatrical trailer and image galleries. This first pressing included an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring a round table discussion of the film by Anna Bogutskaya, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Valeria Villegas Lindvall, plus a double-sided fold-out poster.

Verdict: An excellent presentation of the film – but I’m just not buying the ending. 6/10

Nick Joy