PopHorror Let's Get Scared
From the second The Furies trailer dropped a few months ago, it exuded the feeling of an old school slasher. This little taste of a modern day game of cat and mouse captured tension and left viewers waiting to see what kind of monster lay around every corner. Let’s look at this film and see where it ranks in the crowded horror climate of 2019.
The Furies was written and directed by Tony D’Aquino (Two Twisted TV series) in his feature film debut. Right from the start, we’re introduced to two best friends who are at polar opposite crossroads in their lives. The conservative protagonist role of Kayla, is played by the likable Airlie Dodds (Killing Ground 2016), and the bad girl daredevil, Maddie, is played by the convincing Ebony Vagulans (To Be 2012). This gives us instant character depth and makes us invest in what happens to them (and their bond) later in the film. The girls become captured and used as pawns in a deadly game of survival.
The environment is the perfect mix of beauty and tension. As Kayla comes across other girls who are also fighting for their lives, a catchy score and a vast location remind us of the “good ol’ days” of horror. While this plot is simple and easy to follow, they do a nice job of slowly filling the audience in on the game. This movie is part The Hunger Games and part Hostel II (read our retro review here). Each character is given a moral compass, and some stay on higher ground while others are emotionally scarred. It’s a nice variance, and it breaks the stereotyping tradition. The villains in this slasher are all different, too, and there’s a bit more depth to their actions than just mindless killing. The run-time is tight at 82 minutes, and the gore stands out in a good way as well.
Watch The Furies right here!
The only problem with The Furies is the lack of finality. The film takes a sharp turn in the final 10 minutes that dumps a lot of exposition in your lap that doesn’t entirely leave a bow on the story. Without delving into spoiler territory, the complaints about the final layer of storytelling suffer from the same types of pratfalls as Escape Room (see others discuss this movie here). But all in all, The Furies is a well-paced and fun addition to your playlist this October, with a style that could easily turn into a can’t-miss franchise. It’s available on Shudder at the time of this article’s release.
