PopHorror Let's Get Scared
We all know that dark face in the shadows. They always have just the slightest glare in your tired eyes. Although I am morbid and a horror movie fan to an almost unhealthy fixation. I had seen it all, up until these past few years. New styles are becoming prominent in the genre, even in the indie film scene as we saw with Terrifier 3. I have to admit that even as a child I couldn’t be in complete darkness, I guess it’s a phobia. Movies like Nate Thompson’s short film Hexe are part of the reason why.
Sypnosis
“A woman struggling with lucid nightmares of a pale white creature, is awoken to encounter a spiritual parasite that’s roamed the land for thousands of years”
I thought Skinamarink was a creepy setting however; this is a bit worse. It’s the blue lights in horror. That old style that just screams for attention and sets the mood for terror. Hexe is one of those movies that give me hope for the future. I like the idea of people doing what they love and chasing dreams. I love a good amount of found footage films, Hexe kind of steps into this area, and all the while no one is running around with a camera. This film makes excellent use of its 10-minute time frame.
I have to admit, I was fooled by a lot of opportunities for jump scares, I don’t feel this movie needed it. The tone and the silence beside screams are pretty unnerving, you feel as though you are following her. It’s kind of like VR from hell, I felt as scared as she was while she ducked around corners. I will also say that I may not be a praying man, but if a cross starts bleeding that’s a pretty good sign to get the hell out. There were a lot of tense moments for me in this 10-minute beauty, even for me.
The most amazing part of all of this is that the entire film was shot with a two-person team as Nate Thompson and Raychell Eastes. Between acting and filming, the spirit of DIY and old school FX with the cross scene. I owe it to both of these people for keeping my ADHD mind focused. This shows the love for people who make short films in their backyard or an apartment. The idea is so much more mind-boggling, and passionate. Anyone can pick up a cheap camera and start filming, but they don’t put their heart into what they are doing. Most of it is just a gimmick, however; I have the feeling Hexe is going to break some barriers.
Another strong point in Hexe is that you never really know what you are looking at until it’s too late. It’s a classic story of the monster in the closet and under the bed. Let’s just say that the two of these facts scare me a little, even at 41 years old. Do we ever really grow out of these kinds of moments though? I don’t know about many of you, but I turn off the basement light and I always make a mad dash up the steps. It’s because of films like Hexe. The blue lighting gave it more of a nightmare state, just like it’s supposed to.
In The End
To be honest, this film scared the crap out of me. It wasn’t just “Oh cool we are in the dark.” It’s part of a bigger circuit flying around under the radar. I can only wait to see more, especially films such as this. Keep your heart in what you are chasing and make it come to life.
