Fantasia 2019: ‘8’ is an Intriguing Mix of South African Folkloric Horror

South Africa isn’t a country known for its genre output, but it has produced some clever thrillers over the years. The debut feature of writer/director Harold Holscher, 8 is just one of many recent entries to stem from Mzansi, and like Five Fingers for Marseilles and Number 37, 8 continues South Africa’s recent wave of genre-bending films that use the South African culture and landscape to explore the genre in new and interesting ways. Said to have taken inspiration from local folklore, Harold Holscher’s 8 taps into the myths and legends of his home country, and centers around an old man who seeks atonement after selling his daughter’s soul.

After declaring bankruptcy, William (Garth Breytenbach) is forced to move back to his childhood family farm which he inherited from his estranged father. With him are his wife, Sarah (Inge Beckmann), and their adopted daughter, Mary (Keita Luna). Upon arriving, they meet Lazarus (Tshamano Sebe), a farmhand who claims to have worked for William’s dad, and who offers to help William clean up their family property. Sara wants her adopted child to have nothing to do with the nomad, but despite Sarah’s distrust in the man, Will is grateful for his assistance and allows him to stay a few nights. As it turns out, both Lazarus and Mary have lost their family, and because of this, the brave little girl and the mysterious old man quickly form a bond.

However, Sarah is right to be suspicious, as Lazarus is hiding a dark secret that will put their family in danger. After his wife died from childbirth and his daughter perished in a fire, Lazarus was consumed with grief and made a pact with the devil that left him with a curse and a large leather sack weighing him down. The bag he carries contains a child-like creature with bright, devilish eyes, sharp fangs, long claws, and a yearning hunger for souls. As to who or what exactly it is, we may never know, but what is clear is that Lazarus is bound to this creature, and chances are, this thing may have once been his daughter.

The film’s title – the number 8 – represents a shape burnt into the ground at the meeting point between the physical world and some sort of spiritual realm. As the evil infests the family home, the horror begins to take hold, and the demon that Lazarus carries with him soon demands Mary’s soul. 8 is a horror film that is light on scares, but thick on dreamlike atmosphere. David Pienaar’s gorgeous cinematography captures the beauty and danger of rural African life, and with his moody visuals, Holscher and his team have created one of the better-looking horror films of 2019. There is true artistry on display here, as Holscher does a masterful job in bringing the environment to life. In terms of using the language of cinema to tell a story, 8 oozes with style, but it also takes its sweet time getting from one scene to the next. And while I do appreciate a slow burn, for what is billed as a horror movie, 8 is extremely light on suspense, which can leave some viewers wanting more.

Thankfully Tshamano Sebe turns in a commanding performance as Lazarus, a complex anti-hero struggling with loss, grief, and a curse that forces him to do unspeakable acts. Lazarus could have easily been painted as just another horror movie villain, but Sebe makes him both imposing and vulnerable. The actor carries the weight of the entire film on his shoulders, creating a moving portrait of a father struggling to cope with the death of his daughter while forced to pay for past sins. While it is clear from the opening reel that Lazarus cannot be trusted, Sebe’s performance is so good that you can’t help but sympathize with Lazarus, even when he may or may not be placing the young girl in danger.

At its core, 8 is a story about grief and coping with the loss of a loved one. The demon that Lazarus is cursed with carrying around with him may bring the horror, but it is Tshamano Sebe’s performance that brings the film to life. Despite some minor shortcomings, 8 is a welcome addition to the horror genre, as it features stories and folklore new to Western audiences. It is a movie seeping in South African culture and folklore, and despite the premise, 8 refuses to pass judgment on any one character, even if they are billed as the villain.

• Ricky D

The Fantasia Film Festival runs July 11 – August 1. Visit the official website for more information.