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| Images Courtesy of Nicholas Pineda |
Found footage films are a dominating force in the horror genre. Heralded by The Blair Witch Project, these movies have saturated the market, producing a mixed bag of results, with some entries being truly terrifying while others are laughable knock offs. Nicholas Pineda's debut feature film, Infirmary, is a disquieting, low budget entry into the pantheon. Featuring a soulful central performance, uncomfortable visuals, and a true understanding of guerilla style film making, this is one of the strongest horror films of the year thus far.
Edward is a battle-scarred veteran who is hired as a security guard for a derelict mental hospital. Under the strange command of his superior, Lester, Edward begins to experience supernatural phenomenons that lead to a terrifying conclusion. Pineda cowrote the script with Katy Krauland. The interesting mix of minimalist dialogue with detached camerawork enhances the strange vibe that pervades every scene. This is a haunted place, and its ghosts are very much alive, even when they are not on screen. Paul Syre gives a soulful performance as Edward, the new recruit who is struggling with PTSD from his military service. This is offset by Mark Anthony Williams' humorous turn as Lester, the grizzled, ex-cop who runs security for a building that most likely does not need it. His chemistry with Syre is easy, natural, and layers what is to come with a wounded sense of humanity. Rounding out the cast is Danielle Kennedy, whose Ms. Downey is the perfect creepy addition to the trifecta, particularly in her scenes with Syre in the bowels of the eponymous infirmary.
What begins as a routine night on call quickly descends into a quagmire of ghosts, false images, and trauma. Thoughts of Grave Encounters are impossible to evade, but Pineda and his small crew keep everything laser focused on Edward's plight, with perhaps the strongest aspect being that they never fully commit to cheap jump scares. Every moment where such is anticipated gives way to a further clue to the mystery of the asylum, one that might not ever be solved. The final yield, is a fun foray into the found footage genre with unforgettable images and an unspeakable conclusion.
Debuting this
evening at the Dances with Films NY festival tonight, Infirmary is a
solid horror film that is both unnerving and tragic with its denouement.
If seeking a minimalist, low budget opus made with care and attention,
this will not disappoint.
--Kyle
Jonathan