Anglerfish

A surreal film about a couple living in the woods and a stranger who enters their lives.

Mary (Wilson) and Jonathan (Wilkins) are a young couple who live in an isolated house in the countryside during the early twentieth century. Their quiet lifestyle is disrupted by the arrival of Juliette (Black), a woman who has just lost her husband in a rather dramatic fashion. The couple agree to accommodate her and take her to a train station. The three of them seem to get along for a while, however Juliette suddenly vanishes and things turn sinister.

This hour-long feature is a slow-paced story that could be placed towards David Lynch territories due to the performances, dialogue and awkward events that take place. The story is rather straightforward (a couple meet a stranger) and it is the weird events that stand out. These events include dance sequences that involve either two or all three protagonists dancing inside the house. These lengthy scenes are heavily edited and contain flashing, colourful lights and club music (which feels out of place considering that the plot takes place during the early nineteen twenties). Another part that stands out is a black-and-white sequence again with a lot of editing that keeps showing the same actions. This part and the dance scenes are quite long and watching them can be a bit tiring.

Nearly the entire narrative takes place during night-time, making the atmosphere feel downbeat. Most of the time, the feature seems surreal and it is when Juliette disappears that horror elements take place, such as gore and dread. Things also move towards the supernatural, with the appearance of ghostly figures.

Repetition is widely present here, particulalrly during the black-and-white sequence that keeps showing the same actions again and again with speed. Repetitive sounds are also present, such as a radio going static, a clock striking and the constant sounds of crickets.

The acting is surreal and the three characters are individuals who have suffered a loss. While Mary and Juliette develop a rapport, Jonathan is the one who appears to become the antagonist.

Visually, the film looks good thanks to some creative lighting techniques and the mise-en-scene that includes period clothing that looks convincing thanks to Caroline Roberts.

This is a surreal dark psychological horror film. The target audience is small as the slow pace and awkward moments will probably not appeal to everyone. The viewers who will appreciate this feature will most likely be the ones who approve of Surrealism and unique approaches to storytelling.