They Look Like People review: “A must for fans of quirky indie twisting thrillers.”
They Look Like People review
Director: Perry Blackshear
Cast: Macleod Andrews, Evan Duouchel, Margaret Ying Drake
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 80 minutes
Synopsis: Working on the understanding that something is infecting those around him, Wyatt (Andrews) becomes convinced that the world is ending. When faced with this information he faces the problem of saving himself or risking everything to save his best friend Christian (Duouchel).
They Look Like People isn’t your usual Frightfest film. Or to put it a different way it’s not the type of horror film that one would expect to screen at an event called Frightfest. Of course Frightfest isn’t all big-breasted cheerleaders running around nearly naked, pursued by some middle-aged loner, yet They Look Like People is so drastically different from everything else on offer.
Instead of the ‘usual’ it is a dark and psychological tale about a young man whom is either going mad or has been chosen as an acolyte for a forthcoming war / apocalypse. There are elements of horror, enough to keep audiences engaged, but it is the significant difference to other films that will really hook people. Although not a horror, more of a dark drama, They Look Like People is full of an uneasy / uncomfortable atmosphere which sits underneath the piece. When combined with a sparse and creepy score, as well as some disturbing images and sound design, the tense atmosphere will keep audiences on edge.
Careful to never give the viewer too much insight or information, writer / director Perry Blackshear presents titbits of evidence and lets the audience interpret the facts however they wish. The story and setting are fairly static; most of the action takes place in only a handful of locations and its a very cerebral story. That isn’t to say that the film lags or grows tiresome, instead the pace is controlled by the editing.
They Look Like People review
