Succubus
Succubus
Once in a while, you come across a movie and you leave the screen for some minutes in complete shock saying “What the heck did I just watch?!” Succubus is a horror film created by RJ Daniel Hanna that addresses how dating works these days but with some adaptation.
Picture this, you are using a dating application and the person you swiped right is out to get you. Christopher played by Brendan Bradly, is a husband and a father, who is and has been emotionally exhausted. Chris is on a trial separation with his wife and is babysitting their children while she is at a bachelor party.
Chris’s friend Eddie, played Derek Smith, egged him on to make a dating profile and guided him how it works. Chris, however, appears to be uncomfortable with the idea and so goes ahead and logs in, absorbs all the pictures of the women onto the site swiping left and right through their portraits.
The film’s narrative is captivating because it makes use of phones as well as laptop and nanny cam screens. Such a restrictive way of storytelling evokes closeness which imitates Chris’ existence. Chris is feeling agonizingly lonely and suffocated however this adds to how big his world is when he matches up with Adra(Rachel Cook).
Adra’s room has less freedom than Chris’ room except that she is confined to one room which is the only room we are shown. Adra uses her sexuality to lure Chris and he gradually succumbs to her charms. Adra begs for Chris’ assistance and explains that she is a hostage who needs saving. Enduring and broken, Chris yearns to save Adra and this is the moment where his world starts to unravel.
Meanwhile, Chris gets a phone call from Orion Zepher, a well-developed character performed deftly by Ron Pearlman, who wants to know about the woman whom Chris has just been speaking to. He wants to warn him what sort of trouble he is walking into but Chris does not think there is such a danger. Orion seems to have experience with women like Adra, and is aware of their tricks.
Christopher does not understand Fraser and thinks that he is crazy and he has got this impression from Adra about Fraser. Ron Pearlman looks like he’s enjoying himself in this particular role very much and I look forward for a series where he is after the succubi. A confrontation between Chris, Adra and Orion was indeed tense and I would expect this to raise the level of anxiety.
Perhaps one of the more pleasurable aspects of a horror film is the carnage at the end of it all. Although the number of kills can be counted on the fingers of a hand, when it is time for one of them, it is totally brutal. One of the kills that Director Hanna employed practical effects for in this movie is amazing. The way this scene has been edited makes it look like this moment is even longer, although I know for sure it won’t extend much.
This kill is definitely going to be competing with the yoga death scene in In a Violent Nature. One more good example of practical effects is the last transformation of Adra. I would like to see more such images of her in this form and who knows, maybe we would see some more of that when the home video comes out.
Conclusions: Succubus is the type of horror movie that leads you in one direction and token turns in the opposite direction. Most adults can relate to the feelings of isolation and heartbreak that Chris carries.
This feeling also makes it hard for Chris to avoid bad decisions that ultimately leads him into the arms of a succubus. Adra is one character that after all the credits roll will still be stuck in your head and hope to see how she got to be as she is. Succubus will eventually establish a cult following in the future!
Kids: Children younger than 9 would likely not find succubus appropriate as it does contain a lot of sexual innuendo and gore. This might be appropriate for children aged 17 and above.
Violence: You will get to witness some body mutilation which I guarantee will have you squirming in your seats. One of the deaths here will actually rival the yoga death in In a Violent Nature.
Under the influence of his libido-driven companion Eddie, Chris, who recently became a dad, goes to the StarCrossed dating application with a ‘Let me just see what’s in there for me’ attitude, sooner than later he thinks it might be a good time to patch up with the ex-wife he has been separated from.
However, when he comes across Adra, a beautiful girl with a troubled background, who happens to be his match, all his intentions quickly go out the window. Chris gets enclosed in her magnetic spell even as everything is crumbling in his life. Chris, who works with Eddie and Adra as a stalker, Dr. Zephyr and a few others try to fluctuate the powerful Adra, only for her to ultimately unleash her dreadful inner self.
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- Genre: Drama, horror, Thriller
- Country: United States
- Director: R.J. Daniel Hanna
- Cast: Brendan Bradley, Olivia Grace Applegate, Rosanna Arquette
