PopHorror Let's Get Scared
When I get asked what my favorite subgenre of horror is, I always give slasher films as my immediate answer. While this is true, I have to confess I also love psychological thrillers. I can honestly say that many of them have held more scare value to me than slasher films. When I saw the trailer for Screwdriver (2023), I knew I wanted to check it out. What did I think of this thriller? Read on for my spoiler free review.
Buffalo 8 and director Cairo Smith (Lord of Space) present the new thriller, Screwdriver (2023). The film is Smith’s feature length film debut and stars AnnaClare Hicks (Chocolate Lizards) as Emily, Charlie Farrell (In Her Name) as Robert, and Milly Sanders (Karen) as Melissa.
Film Synopsis:
Blindsided by divorce, thirty-three-year-old Emily leaves her adopted Nebraska behind, returning to California with nothing but a suitcase in hand. She seeks refuge in the home of an old high school friend and his pharmacologist wife. The childless couple welcome Emily into their lives, but their hospitality soon gives way to a surreal plot of cult-like manipulation and betrayal. As days bleed together, Emily falls into a delirious tailspin, forcing her to question her faith, her sanity, and the intentions of her generous hosts.
My Thoughts:
Screwdriver is a bold effort for a first feature length film. Cairo Smith has created a slow burn, character driven psychological thriller. The single location works well with the plot development. It creates tension and a lot of “Just what is going on here?” moments.
The film’s premise is simple enough at first. Bewildered Emily is recovering from the shock of the abrupt and unexpected end of her marriage. She seeks refuge with her friend from high school, Robert, and his wife, Melissa. They genuinely seem kind and like they want to help Emily through this difficult time. Soon, the situation becomes more and more convoluted. The generous and hospitable couple are not who they appear to be. Or are they? With each scene, you experience this nightmare of manipulation and betrayal right along with Emily. You’ll be asking yourself what exactly is going on here throughout this film. What kind of people are Robert and Melissa? Are they good people? Or not so good people?
Screwdriver is character driven. The characters are not only written well, but the actors performed well, too. There are some scenes that may be confusing to some, but they don’t distract too much from the storytelling and the sense of dread and tension that is slowly building. There is a culminating scene that is just magnificently executed by AnnaClare Hicks. Charlie Farrell and Milly Sanders are also outstanding in their roles. They are convincing in every scene.
The film is shot beautifully. Crisp and clear and great use of space and lighting.
My Final Thoughts:
Screwdriver is worth the watch, even with some scenes that may be confusing. The performances make it a worthwhile venture. What scares me about this film is the fact that this could be true and someone out there may be experiencing a situation similar to this.
I am going to keep my eye out for Cairo Smith’s future development as a filmmaker.
Screwdriver (2023) is available November 10, 2023, on most VOD platforms.
