PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film being covered here wouldn’t exist. PopHorror fully supports the WGA and SAG-AFTRA and their efforts.
I had the distinct pleasure and pure joy of watching The Mistress last night at the historic Laemmle Theater in Glendale. It was an intimate screening featuring a Q & A afterward with writer/director Greg Pritikin, which is my favorite way to watch a film. It’s one of the main reasons I love film festivals.
The Mistress is about an hour and forty-two minutes. Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve used that one. It’s an hour and forty-two minutes of masterfully crafted suspense, fantastic performances, and beautiful lighting in the most incredible setting, a remarkable Victorian home. A perfect score by Autro Rodriguez (Lights Out 2016) is the icing on the cake.
Synopsis
As newlywed couple Parker (John Magaro Past Lives 2023) and Madeline (Chasten Harmon Paterson 2016) settle into their new home, Parker discovers a plate camera with a spent plate inside. While Parker makes his living as a writer, he’s also a hobbyist photographer. After setting up the darkroom, he develops the photo revealing a young, sullen-looking woman standing in front of what’s now their home. Now I know 99% of people in Victorian photos looked sullen… but she had legit reasons (which will be mentioned shortly).
Thus begins a series of unnerving events revealing something in Parker’s past. He once had a stalker and has no idea what she’s up to now. With Parker on edge in the home, the game begins with the audience; is it the ghost of the woman in the photograph or the psycho ex-girlfriend?
Parker and Maddie have their close friends, Davey (James Carpinello Fear the Night 2023) and Janine (Alexandra Grey MacGyver 2021), over, along with Parker’s manager Rob (Paul Schackman Never Have I Ever 2023), for a small housewarming dinner.
As the dinner winds down, Parker gives Davey a tour, where Davey discovers a box of old love letters, presumably from the woman in the photograph, Rebecca (Aylya Marzolf Siren 2020), to the man who originally owned the house. The strange occurrences increase, leading to Parker seeing Rebecca at night in the home.
Things become exceedingly complicated when the apparition becomes possessive of Parker to the detriment of his friends and family. But there’s so much more in this story that I can’t quite tell without giving any spoilers away.
Bonus Props
I mentioned earlier that the actors are top-notch, but I needed to give love to an actress I grew up adoring, who’s featured as Madeline’s mom, Rae Dawn Chong (Interview with the Vampire Series 2022). I’ve loved her since The Color Purple, especially after Tales from the Darkside: the Movie. So I was especially excited to see she was in the film. And, of course, I couldn’t go without mentioning the delightfully obnoxious character of Parker and Maddie’s neighbor, Dawn (Kat Cunning Rap Sh!t 2022). Dawn offers some pretty specific moments of comedic relief with her expertise in nearly everything and a blog to boot. Not only does she give some laughs, but she also serves as a point of contention. Offering another sticky layer in the complicated mess that Parker’s life becomes.
The Joys of an In-Cinema Viewing Experience
As I sat in the darkened theater, listening to the music usher each scene and intense moment, and watched the characters go through their motions, it was clear to me that while the score is very much deep, dark horror, the overall tone of the film is mysterious and suspenseful. It felt considerably like a modern Hammer film with a little bit of a Hitchcockian vibe. It was satisfying to hear Pritikin mention in the Q&A that he grew up loving the Hammer films.
The Mistress has quite the twist that separates it from what would be defined as a standard horror film. And just as well, The Mistress stands out as a wonderfully executed suspense-thriller. It really is unique in its own right. I think one of the things I most enjoyed watching The Mistress with an audience was hearing one of the viewers next to me gasp and yell out at the best jump scares.
I’m generally not a fan of jump scares because they never work on me, and almost always feel lazy. But when you build up tension in just the right moments and have a perfectly placed (and well-balanced) sound, I’ll get a start and smile that adds to the fun.
Support Outstanding, Independently Produced Horror
I highly recommend checking out The Mistress if it’s at a nearby theater. And if it’s not, I’m deeply sorry. But you can still check it out in all its glory on VOD. I mean, you might be able to replicate the theater experience by having friends over for a watch party. Or maybe even try talking to your local theater’s programmer to see if they can get their hands on a print. It’s been known to happen.
Bottom line, if you love thrillers and great suspense, then you’ll definitely enjoy The Mistress.
