The spooky season is nearly upon us and Erik Bloomquist’s latest film, Intermedium, is the perfect way to ease yourself in. Written by Taylor Turner, Intermedium is a perfect gate-way genre film that mixes the supernatural, high school melodrama, and musicals together. Drama obsessed teen, Bridget (Emily Keefe), moves in with her father and his wife and finds more than she bargained for. Although no one else can see him, Bridget discovers that she is to share her new bedroom with its former occupant, Kyle (Beau Minniear). The teenager passed away before Bridget’s move, and the teen is quickly drawn into his world. Can she help him complete his unfinished business? And as the two become closer, will she be able to let him go?
Those who have become accustomed to Bloomquist’s usual brand of horror in Minutes to Midnight, She Came from the Woods, and Founder’s Day, should know that Intermedium is a very different beast. Whereas his other movies are directed towards the horror savvy and bloodthirsty crowd, Intermedium is for the horror novice. There is no denying that there are supernatural elements, but the brief for Intermedium is not to terrify, but to move. Think of Intermedium as a teenage switch-up of Ghost, and as spooky as something like Practical Magic. Whilst this might not please the gore-hound, this is a film that opens itself up to being watched by almost the whole family. Though the themes and topics will be too much for the younger members of the family unit, Intermedium is a great watch for parents and teenagers.
Intermedium taps into some of that magic of family friendly spooky movies of the nineties. Although very different, Intermedium has the feel of classics such as Casper and Hocus Pocus; Intermedium maintains their easy sense of wonder and romance. The addition of the school musical also helps keep the tone light, tapping into some of the essence of Disney juggernaut, High School Musical. And yet, beneath and between the overwhelming feelings of warmth and comfort, are the occasional bursts of grief and delicate subject matters. Neither Turner’s script nor Bloomquist’s direction shy away from displaying some of the harder and more cruel aspects of the teen experience. The use of light and shade particularly help Intermedium shine; the moments of levity cut through the saccharine decorations to shine a light on crucial parts of the teenage experience.
Leads Emily Keefe and Beau Minniear are both relatively new to acting and yet both give believable and personable performances. Keefe plays Emily on the brink of Rachel from Glee, but manages to reign her back from becoming too divaish. In contrast, Minniear lets Kyle be an overwhelming slice of cocky masculinity. The juxtaposition of the duo treads into traditional odd couple territory, which is not necessarily a bad thing. On screen together the pair work well, and in spite of it being clear where they are headed, they never rest on their laurels. The wider cast helps enforce the teenage landscape, presenting a vast amount of representation via just a few characters.
As charming as Intermedium is, it is perhaps a smidge too long. It started life as a short film and expanding such ideas to feature length can always be tricky. Intermedium does sag a little towards the end, though it picks itself up for its heartfelt and bittersweet conclusion. It is a minor speed bump along what is otherwise a pleasant journey. Its twee nature will not be for everyone, but Intermedium is exactly the type of teen movie that tweens thrive on. A great film to enjoy during the lead-up to the spooky season, Intermedium places ghostly romances, teen angst, and musicals together with surprising results.
Intermedium
Summary
Sweet and charming with the occasional moments of levity, Intermedium is a great gateway into both horror and the spooky season.
Intermedium was reviewed at Soho International Film Festival 2023.
