by Gloria Daniels-Moss
First time feature director Luke Massey proves to us that budget isn’t everything in his latest work, Armistice (Warhouse).
Over the last decade the film industry has seen a significant rise in indie style, very much independently funded projects, which in a lot of ways have turned out better than films funded by major companies. If the script is strong enough, the cast willing and everyone is passionate enough to make it happen, the results will undoubtedly reflect it.
First time feature director Luke Massey proves to us that budget isn’t everything in his latest work, Armistice (Warhouse).
Over the last decade the film industry has seen a significant rise in indie style, very much independently funded projects, which in a lot of ways have turned out better than films funded by major companies. If the script is strong enough, the cast willing and everyone is passionate enough to make it happen, the results will undoubtedly reflect it.
We are introduced to Royal Marine A.J. Budd (Joseph Morgan) who at first seems to be having a normal day and getting ready to report back to duty, yet something is out of the ordinary. This man is trapped inside a house, caught on a Groundhog Day type of loop and is forced to fight supernatural beings repeatedly, day after day. Very quickly we catch on that this is in fact a cycle that this man has to endure every day. Horror, and indeed film in general that revolves around the human psyche, make way for some of the most captivating cinema. Not knowing what is real and what is not and asking the all important question of ‘am I losing my mind?’ is far too close to home not to get caught up in.
Here, the cast were outstanding, the idea intriguing but sadly the plot just didn’t sustain the length of this feature. Being a fairly short feature at that, the point of this horror could have easily been made in montage sequences throughout a much grander narrative, instead of being spread out quite so thinly. The creature, aptly named ‘The Fallen’, is quite terrifying at first glance; with stitched up, rotting flesh with oozing green blood and one horrific growl – yet after the first half an hour, the fear wears off as Budd becomes stronger and prepares himself for the creature every day. After he discovers that the same thing happened to Edward Sterling (Matt Ryan) another man of war who documented his days Budd almost accepts his situation and makes way for the films resolution. The fact he becomes so relaxed to have a sing-song whilst enjoying a hot bath knowing the creature is coming for him takes away the films suspense and mystery. That being said, strategically placing such dark humour is very much needed in this somewhat emotionally heavy story-line.
Here, the cast were outstanding, the idea intriguing but sadly the plot just didn’t sustain the length of this feature. Being a fairly short feature at that, the point of this horror could have easily been made in montage sequences throughout a much grander narrative, instead of being spread out quite so thinly. The creature, aptly named ‘The Fallen’, is quite terrifying at first glance; with stitched up, rotting flesh with oozing green blood and one horrific growl – yet after the first half an hour, the fear wears off as Budd becomes stronger and prepares himself for the creature every day. After he discovers that the same thing happened to Edward Sterling (Matt Ryan) another man of war who documented his days Budd almost accepts his situation and makes way for the films resolution. The fact he becomes so relaxed to have a sing-song whilst enjoying a hot bath knowing the creature is coming for him takes away the films suspense and mystery. That being said, strategically placing such dark humour is very much needed in this somewhat emotionally heavy story-line.
Joseph Morgan (The Vampire Dairies, Open Grave) uses his distant and minimal speech Budd to the nth - degree. He practically portrays every emotion imaginable here and does so with pure finesse. Certainly not just the ferocious vampire we all know him as. Considering there are only really three members of the cast here, Morgan does a terrific job of owning the screen as we see his mind slowly spiralling into madness.
Armistice is not without its faults and perhaps it would have been punchier as a short film. Albeit, here the positives somewhat out way the negatives. Some may find this hard to get into, or even dull due to it being shot in one location, but if you like films that play with time and your mind, then Armistice may be worth your time.
Armistice is not without its faults and perhaps it would have been punchier as a short film. Albeit, here the positives somewhat out way the negatives. Some may find this hard to get into, or even dull due to it being shot in one location, but if you like films that play with time and your mind, then Armistice may be worth your time.
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