Title: Phobia

RLJ Entertainment

Director: Rory Abel

Writers: Rory Douglas Abel, Matthew Barnes

Cast: Michael Jefferson, Emma Dubery, Sarah Schoofs

Running time: 84 min, Not Rated

Special Features: Commentary by Producer Elias Ganster and Director Rory Abel, Deleted Scenes, Concept Art

Available November 25th

After a car accident that claimed the life of his wife, Michael Jefferson has become agoraphobic and will not step one foot outside. He has friends who visit from time to time and he has his groceries delivered. He holds down a job as a transcriptionist, so his life is bound completely to his house. He starts a romantic/sexual relationship with the delivery girl, but he still experiences sexual encounters with his dead wife and starts to see a dark figure of a woman in black.  He thinks he imagines himself murdering various people in the house. He sees their bodies and then they’re gone, but soon their ghosts are roaming the house. Michael believes his agoraphobia is turning into insanity as he can no longer decipher what is real and what is in his head.

The Good: Boobs, realistic looking sex scene enough to make you uncomfortable – if you’re into that. Adequate gore effects. The autopsy Y cut on Michael’s dead wife doesn’t look quite accurate, but still pretty effective.

The Bad: The CD case cover is pretty terrifying with the eyes forced open A Clockwork Orange style with spiders crawling all over the face…but it has absolutely nothing to do with the film.  What a total let down.  The acting is a little bit bad. The sound quality is not great – very tinny and lots of echo.

The character development wasn’t really there. Yes he’s freaked out about going outside, he’s mourning the death of his wife. They hint that they had a loving relationship, but he is quick to get over her by screwing the delivery girl…but he’s still in love with his wife. He’s afraid of going outside, he’s terrified of the ghosts, but then manages to have a conversation with one. It’s very confusing. Don’t make the audience guess at what you’re hinting at when you’re not very good at hints.

If you’re a cinemaphile, do not watch the commentary. They called the movie Wilfred, “Willow.” They mention “Benjamin” the rat, when the song “Ben” was only featured in the Crispin Glover remake version film which only the original version of the film garnered the sequel “Ben.” How can you guys be in the industry and know that little and sound so sure of yourselves? Ugh, so frustrating.

One funny part was when writer/director Rory Abel was told to explain the ending which was a total bizarro-world storyline. It was deep, but I never saw what he intended in his story on screen. If they played it out the way he explained, it would’ve been a much better film.

The only part I actually liked was the ending, but it was confusing as hell. Was it all in his head? Was he dead this whole time or just when he finally made it outside?…or did he?

Acting:D

Story: C

Technical: C

Total Rating: C

Reviewed by: JM Willis

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