Anguish Movie Download

7 / 10

A great mixture of ideas, imperfect in its telling
A jolting opening scene gives way to an active narrative that is very low-key and unhurried. Small instances of unexpected or unsettling sights, sounds, or otherwise occurrences slowly accumulate. However, these are somewhat dampened by either the muted tone of the film, or the combination of music, sound cue, editing, and direction that overemphasizes specific moments in a very ordinary way. Why, some of the incidents to greet us are pure horror trope.

And yet, for all that – as the premise would indicate, in no small part ‘Anguish’ adopts the approach of psychological horror. As the story is essentially told through protagonist Tess’ perspective, for much of the film there’s no telling quite how “real” any of the events are. There’s a definite supernatural angle that also comes into play, but the happenings early on are the least of it; the way that “the paranormal” is woven in to the greatest impact is with great subtlety. All this is embodied with surprising skill by star Ryan Simpkins – far from a household name, though I hope more recognition comes to them. They exhibit the range, nuance, and physicality of a far older, far more experienced actor, managing the complex lead role with a quiet poise that I think marks them as someone to watch for.

Furthermore, the elements of supernatural and psychological horror that are blended into the screenplay work in concert with one other important idea. There’s an underlying aspect of a more esoteric type of horror – the kind that comes with being faced with woeful circumstances one can neither understand nor control, but only watch unfold; a subset of the genre where the ultimate goal isn’t fright, but grief. As Tess struggles through her ordeal, and her mother Jessica (Annika Marks, with all due desperation) with trying to help her, there’s a definite air of… well, anguish to the scenario, just as if not more palpable than the disquiet that comes with the other genre elements. To my pleasure I’ve seen a few short films that played in a similar space, painting over classic horror themes with more predominant dread sorrow, and to see that slant employed in a full-length feature is most gratifying.

There are just two problems here. The first is the way that ‘Anguish’ advances with a very unbothered gait and purpose. The confluence of all these varied notions is welcome, but it doesn’t come until the third act, almost squarely in the last third of the runtime. The convergence illuminates and elevates the prior length we had watched as we see what writer-director Sonny Mallhi has been crafting all along. What had felt very unremarkable at the outset is cast in a new light. The fact remains, though, that the first two-thirds – the first act especially – is unexceptional, and a little middling, to the point that I initially questioned what I had committed to watching.

The second is that ‘Anguish’ just doesn’t fully succeed at what it sets out to do. I greatly enjoy the performances of Simpkins, and Marks, and Karina Logue in the role of Sarah – bereft but possessing solid personal strength. I love the fusion of varied facets of horror, and especially the much less conventional tack of what has in other contexts been termed “tragic horror.” I think the technical craft is sound in every regard. Not least of all as a first time director, I think Mallhi has very well demonstrated his capabilities, his screenplay is very good, and the root concept is wonderful. Yet the execution of the screenplay doesn’t hit emotional beats or impactful moments with full force; the utmost potential of the concept isn’t borne out with maximum dire profundity. Deficiency in the realization reduces the overarching Horror of the film, and in turn affects the completeness of the cast’s performances. I think ‘Anguish’ is good – very, very good – but it could have been outstanding.

I can easily understand that this isn’t for everyone. If a viewer isn’t on board with the mixture of ideas employed, or if one is so put out by the less than extraordinary goings-on in the first hour that they don’t even make it to the last bit – to say nothing of the natural variance in opinion – then the movie isn’t going to come off well. I certainly have my difficulties with it; I want to regard it more highly than I do. But I highly admire the effort, and more so than not, I think this is very well made. If you’re receptive to the wide variety of stories that can be told while exploring the horror space, then ‘Anguish’ is a flawed but fine feature worth checking out if you have the chance.Read More