Streaming: Horns

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Do you like demons? Do you like horns? Do you like Harry Potter? Then read our review.
"Do you want to see my snake?"
After a long wait, Alexandre Aja's Horns finally gets a release in the streaming format. Based on a story written by Stephen King's son, Joe Hill, the movie has the all the markings of his Father's influence but never imitates or feels juxtaposed. Horns is a highly original concept that falters at times by feeling uncommitted or unfocused in all the ideas its presenting. But it ultimately redeems itself with a movie strong on character development and indie heart.

 The film is a genre bending mix of fantasy, horror, mystery, and stylized thriller that culminates in an adult Daniel Radcliffe shedding his Harry Potter persona for a more adult oriented movie about murder, mayhem, and an anti-hero with demon horns. While its not as steady a piece as some of Aja's previous genre entries, its a nice change of pace that lets him try something new that audiences haven't seen before. To top it off, Radcliffe really does a phenomenal job leaving behind the character that defined his childhood. He tranforms in to the desperate character of Ig seamlessly and  becomes a drunken, slovenly, suspect of murder that ends up with mysterious demon horns. Sound fun yet?
"They told me this picture kinda
looked like The Fault In Our Stars.
I said so what!
Demon horns, bitches."
Again, Horns is a tad uneven in its presentation. At times the pacing is way off and the actors seem a little too wooden for the situations they're experiencing. But Aja reigns it in after a while, delivering a great last act and some killer visuals that make up for all the movie's minor shortcomings. On that note, Aja always makes great horror, but this feels like someone or something was holding him back from doing exactly what he wanted to do with Horns. There are numerous shifts in tone throughout the film and some definite script issues that make it feel like there were some studio tampering issues with this final cut.

 If you're looking for a straightforward Aja horror flick, Horns is not it. The story is a weird mash-up of numerous murder plots we've seen before while maintaining a certain independent feel that's continually fueled by sexy indie darling Juno Temple and a reinvigorated Daniel Radcliffe. Every once in while it's cool to watch a child actor move on to new things by not becoming that cliched picture of failed adult stardom. Radcliffe is really good in Horns. He feels different, renewed, and creatively inspired.
-CG