In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of filmmakers and artists had to find creative ways to work safely, which led to plenty of innovative experiments, including 2021's Untitled Horror Movie. Directed by Nick Simon and co-written by Luke Baines and Simon, the iHorror-comedy film centers on six young actors who decide to make a horror movie at home after finding out that their TV show is being canceled; however, in doing so, the actors summon a violent entity into their lives. Like their characters, the cast is credited with handling the filming of Untitled Horror Movie, so the film is presented like a Zoom call from hell.
In recent years, there's been a handful of horror films shot primarily through phone or computer screens, like Unfriended and Host. While most of these iHorror films take a straight horror tone, Untitled Horror Movie attempts a more humorous approach.
After so many of us have had to spend countless hours on Zoom or FaceTime for work, school or recreation this past year, the film is painfully relatable -- especially for anyone who dared try to accomplish a major project during a pandemic. The characters have big goals and limited resources, and not everyone is tech-savvy and it’s in this respect that the film shines. Specifically for those working in the arts, entertainment or any creative and collaborative field, it's easy to empathize with the film's characters as they struggle to pull off a remarkable project with people they do not gel with perfectly. Plus, the format of Untitled Horror Movie makes it feel as if you are sitting in the middle of this nightmarish conference call.
The script also has a clever premise, with the actors accidentally summoning a spirit because they incorporated real steps to a satanic ritual into their rehearsal process. Untitled Horror Movie is almost like a mockumentary for the making of a cursed film -- an idea that carries a lot of potential. However, when one steps away from this mockumentary concept, as well as the format, the humor and horror aspects in the film are surface level.
For instance, Untitled Horror Movie is not the kindest depiction of young Hollywood. While it doesn't have to glamorize acting, these characters feel like the basic assumptions of what it's like to be someone young in this industry, so a lot of these jokes about actors and affluent 20-something-year-olds have been made before, like in Barry or Schitt's Creek. It also makes it hard to root for anyone because they all come off as entitled or naive.
There are a handful of moments between characters, specifically Katherine McNamara's Chrissy and Baines' Declan, that feel genuine, and it's unfortunate there aren't more of these to endear these characters to audiences. McNamara, in particular, stands out in Untitled Horror Movie because she goes in 110 percent, embracing her role as a ditzy actor who is too invested in the spiritual. Because she goes so big, her character clearly reads as a caricature but is still charmingly camp.
Along with this, McNamara, Baines and company endure a lot of physical labor in the film. The physicality of the actors is key in communicating the horror, as well as the comedy. Seeing them all react to different moments is almost like watching a horror movie with them, as some of them are scared, while others see this whole thing as ridiculous.
The cast also must tackle the unthinkable -- finding a creative solution to having limited resources while making a supernatural movie. With that in mind, it would’ve been nice to see more of a variety of techniques used to convey this haunting, especially since Untitled Horror Movie is already unique in its approach to filmmaking.
Yes, this is a comedy, but it is still a horror movie and it’s not scary. The film, given its meta-nature, even points out the biggest note it should've followed: A film should make sure it doesn't lose its audience after 20 minutes. At this point, Untitled Horror Movie does introduce the supernatural element, but a lot of the comedy is the same and it takes too long to get into the horror.
It's a shame this movie isn't a home run because there is something deeply charming about the cast and crew's efforts in making this, and the bloopers at the end of Untitled Horror Movie are likely to make viewers smile because it's a reminder of how personal a piece this was for them. Regardless of the movie's intimate format and solid premise, it leaves audiences wanting more.
Directed by Nick Simon, Untitled Horror Movie stars Luke Baines, Darren Barnet, Tim Granaderos, Claire Holt, Katherine McNamara, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Kal Penn, Brower Aisha Tyler, Kevin Daniels, Lesly Kahn and Sohm Kapila. The film premieres on iTunes and Amazon on June 15.
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