Writers: Eduardo Sánchez , Jamie Nash
Stars: Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden
Rated: R
Run Time: 99 min
This week marked the home video release of Eduardo Sánchez's (The Blair Witch Project, Altered) newest venture, Lovely Molly. Supported by a talented cast and brutally simplistic design, this low budget shocker succeeds in creating a disturbingly memorable experience. Just don't forget to turn off the light and crank up the volume!
Molly (Getchen Lodge) and her new husband, Tim (Lohnny Lewis), move into her old family estate. After some occurrences of strange noises and supernaturally ambiguous incidents, Molly starts to loose sleep and slowly descends into the twisted, painful path that was thought to be left behind.
We, like Molly, are drug through the thorns of torment; emotionally beaten down by her past and current demons. This entity that taunts and physically assaults her, plays to her tragic past of being molested as a child, or could very well just be a physical manifestation of internal suffering. Her husband, sister and employer, do not see or hear the source of the haunting, but can observe the change in her appearance and personality. Is this demon real or is Molly going insane? There is a drug addiction subplot mixed with possible mental illness that would support the later.
Let's get down to the fact that we've seen this scenario before, and in much better films. Having said that, Lodge makes this film worth our time and attention. She displays a terrifyingly believable range that guides us through the dark corners of existence while also showing us touches of childhood innocence and naivety. Hopefully she develops a solid career.
The sound design is also what keeps this psychologically horrifying tale above water. Ominous whispers, giggling, eerie tones and clattering hooves become unseen characters that test Molly's resolve, while creating a hauntingly bleak atmosphere. There are a few realistically graphic scenes that also add to the aesthetic.
Lovely Molly certainly isn't original, and tends to rely a little too heavily on is vagueness, but it is a welcome addition to the genre that shows how important inspiration can be to a final product. Don't expect to be handed every answer on a silver platter, because the evidence is rather ambiguous (which is more than ok with me). Make your own interpretation.
