The family is often the first stage of a personal apocalypse. From ominous declarations at holiday dinners to the finality of opposing political discourse, those who love us the most often possess the most powerful ways to wound us as well. Ruth Paxton's unsettling debut feature, A Banquet takes familiar genre tropes and deftly weaves them into a chilling narrative about a family on the brink. Featuring a stunning ensemble performance, harrowing visual compositions, and one of the most uncomfortable sequences in recent memory, this is an excellent psychological horror story and one of the best films of the year thus far.
After witnessing her father's suicide, Betsey has a strange encounter in the woods, the aftermath of which sees her refusing to eat and claiming that she has been chosen by a higher power in order to endure a coming darkness. Her mother, desperately trying to hold her family together begins a desperate bid to save her daughter, all the while not knowing what to believe. Justin Bull's script has a monotonous cadence that enhances the horror as it slowly enters the familial sanctuary. While Jessica Alexander's heart stopping performance as Betsey is the centerpiece, Sienna Guillory's (Resident Evil) performance as her mother Holly is the foundation. Her anguish, even when attempting to cook food and enjoy a meal is palpable, perilously increasing with each step Betsey takes towards the unknown. Rounding out the cast is Lindsey Duncan, who gives a scene stealing performance as Holly's enigmatic mother.
Cinematographer David Lidell frames everything in a duality of order and confusion, with particular detail on the preparation and consumption of food both real and imagined and the result is a squirming sensation that is impossible to shake, brought to a resounding crescendo in the middle of the film. Food is often a remedy for what ails us but in Paxton's urban nightmare, it may be a herald of a coming Armageddon. Comparisons to Von Trier's Melancholia are unavoidable, however, upon deeper reflection there are threads from Haynes' Safe as well. Ultimately, this is a story about loss and belief and how the two coexist in the minds of those left behind and the result is a horrific journey with even scarier implications.
Coming to theaters and digital on demand Friday February 18th, A Banquet is an excellent horror film that refuses to explain itself and leaves everything to the audience. While this works (for the most part) it might be a frustrating experience for anyone who prefers a more straightforward interpretation. However, if the viewer allows Paxton and her talented cast and crew to embrace their subconscious with disastrous intent, the result will be unforgettable.
--Kyle Jonathan
