Brendan Steere's
iconic trashterpiece, The Velocipastor was a punk rock love letter to
cult cinema. His debut feature; recently rediscovered and released
digitally this week, Animosity is a micro budget nightmare that explores
the complexities of relationships and commitment through a never-ending cycle
of madness and violence. Featuring a standout lead performance, an intense
narrative, and haunting visuals, this is an exceptional first film.
Mike and Carrie move into an isolated house in the woods and soon after, Carrie
begins to experience strange phenomenon. What follows is a series of terrifying
revelations that expose both the weaknesses of perception and the dangerous
limits one will go to for those they love. Tracy Willet's central
performance as Carrie is the heart of the film. Steere's script is a
malevolent onion, peeling back layer after layer without ever revealing a
definitive answer to the central premise. Willet's embodiment of a woman
who may or may not be losing her mind is the eye of a perfect storm of confusion
and bloodshed, giving the viewer a conduit into Steere's world of
mystery.
Jesse Gouldbury's gothic cinematography creates a backwoods world of weird players and strange environs, perfectly hidden just beyond the safeties of reality. While the first few scenes come off as overly awkward, this is with intent and when combined with the micro budget, it is interesting dialogue and blocking choices that truly reveal Steere are the mad scientist he is. Where Velocipastor goes deep on its love for trash films, Animosity is a demon born from the mind of a VHS renegade, sneaking viewings of Trancers in the Saturday night darkness and the result is a nasty piece of genre horror that uses every element it has to provoke and mystify.
There is a palpable sense of dread that slowly begins to enter the proceedings once the characters have been established and it is this foundation of fear that allows Steere to dwell on themes of love, mortality, and betrayal. At the center of the story, this is more a reflection of the small lies and sacrifices we make for those we love and ultimately a warning of how deception, however the slightest can ultimately undo everything, even true love.
Now available for digital streaming, Animosity is a towering achievement for a debut feature film. To expound upon the plot or characters more would imperil the insidious surprise that awaits anyone who accepts Steere's bleak invitation. However, those who dare to enter the forsaken woods of his design will have an unforgettable experience.
--Kyle Jonathan