PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Ghost and possession films aren’t really my cup of tea, mainly because I find them fairly derivative. With few exceptions, you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. I wasn’t expecting much from The Forlorned, but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with the film. Read on for my thoughts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewZgb-jdtn8
The Forlorned was directed by Andrew Wiest (Dead Noon 2007). The film was written by Wiest, Ryan Reed (Treasure State 2013), and Angela Townsend, based on her novel. The film stars Colton Christensen (Treasure State 2013), Elizabeth Mouton (Dead Noon 2007), Cory Dangerfield (Templar Nation 2013), Robert Bear (The Adventures of Chris Fable 2010), Larry Laverty (The Hamiltons 2006) and Robert Milo Andrus (Dead Noon 2007).
A newly positioned lighthouse caretaker is haunted by a dark force and mysterious presence. Unlikely assistance is given to bring justice to the dark forces that lie within the lighthouse grounds.
The Forlorned is a solid and enjoyable flick that mixes elements of ghosts and possession films to great effect. The film’s set up kind of reminds me of The Shining, with a man becoming the caretaker at a place with a dark history, but besides the setup and some ghosts from the past, the films couldn’t be more different. One of the strongest points in The Forlorned is that the characters are all pretty fleshed out, even the ones we only see a couple of times. Everyone and everything has an interesting backstory that makes you give a shit about what’s going on. It helps that all the characters are likable.
The cast is wonderful and I would love to see them in more genre films. Colton Christensen does a great job as Tom, making him a character that you root for as well as relate to, reminding me of a Stephen King protagonist. He’s a decent and hardworking man who cares about his family and wants to do the right thing. Elizabeth Mouton’s character of Amy is introduced fairly late in the film but she is a vital piece of the puzzle. She provides some much-needed backstory on the island and sheds light on what’s actually going on as well as shifting into Final Girl mode for the last act, kicking ass and taking names.
The film indulges and plays with ghost and possession tropes but manages to contain some genuinely unsettling visuals and some shocking brutality. The ending, while containing the things I’ve come to expect from films of this kind, had enough specks of originality and emotion that it concludes in a satisfying way while still leaving you wanting more, which is never a bad thing.
The Forlorned is a fun and engrossing film that follows the tropes of the genre while subverting them just enough to set it apart. The film features an excellent cast of likable characters executed wonderfully by a talented acting ensemble that makes you genuinely care about the proceedings. The film wrapped up in a satisfying manner while still leaving me craving more. If you dig ghost and possession films that aren’t afraid to think a little outside the box, be sure to check out The Forlorned when its hit all major VOD outlets on October 3, 2017!
