Described in the Pigeon Shrine FrightFest programme as “a neo-realist take on ‘The Invisible Man’ and a modern urban legend for the online dating era”, Elric Kane’s The Dead Thing was one of our favourite films at this year’s festival. Featuring two stellar performances from leads Blu Hunt and Ben Smith-Petersen, and some very charming turns from its supporting cast, The Dead Thing had the perfect tone for FrightFest.
Alex (Blu Hunt) is a young woman lost in a series of meaningless connections, who signs up to the Friktion dating app and meets her perfect match. Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen) is a charismatic and sensitive man, and soon Alex is falling in love. But Kyle hides a dark secret that turns their affair into a twisted and dangerous obsession.
Tapping into similar themes to previous FrightFest films Nina Forever and Bad Match, Elric Kane’s film does an excellent job analysing modern dating. It also accurately portrays the monotony of the cycle of working, offering a new perspective on the city of Los Angeles. Audiences are used to seeing glitz, glam, and excess in films set in the location, but here they are given cabs, rental apartments, and dreary offices. It’s a great little counterpoint that challenges expectations, but the true strength of The Dead Thing is in its performances.
Whilst sadly neither Blu Hunt or Ben Smith-Petersen could be at FrightFest, their co-star Joey Millin was in attendance. As was director Elric Kane and his co-writer Webb Wilcoxen. The threesome came to the media wall to help spread news about The Dead Thing. THN were also present on the media line and managed to grab time with each of them.
The Dead Thing screened at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest with a UK release date still TBA, but worry not THN will communicate any news as we get it.
