Connect with us

Film

TIFF 2017: ‘The Crescent’ is a Slow-Burn Horror Film that Misses the Mark

Opening with swirling shots of water-marbled paint, The Crescent is quick to set up its languidly hallucinatory aesthetic. Seth A. Smith’s film is nothing if not beautiful, and incredibly bold in its visuals. But this slow-burn horror film is never entirely successful.

Beth (Danika Vandersteen) and her toddler son, Lowen (Woodrow Graves), retreat to a remote beach-house after the passing of Beth’s husband. A painter, Beth takes the chance to work on her art, creating delirious marbling patterns. Meanwhile, sinister spirits on the shore watch them, stalking them first from a distance, then slowly getting aggressively closer as they call Beth and Lowen to the sea. Focusing on looks and atmosphere, Smith uses striking images, shifting aspect ratios, and an eerie soundtrack to create a uniquely sensual fear. But while he excels in capturing a beauty imbued with horror vibes, the film is lacking. Narrative is too slow, while plot and characters are too slight to hold up the meandering pace. A nautical horror somewhat reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Fog (1980), The Crescent‘s images not enough to sustain it, paling in comparison to that much more engaging and thrilling film.

In addition to the thin plot are poor characters. Vandrsteen’s performance always feels off, a distraction during her more emotional scenes. Smith also places too much emphasis on the young Lowen, and while this leads to one of the film’s most conceptually interesting sequences — with focus shifting from mother to son as the toddler, too young to understand his situation, does not realize the horror that the audience sees — Lowen’s constant temper tantrums are a little more than an irritation. A truly unending annoyance who detracts from every other aspect of the film, the character becomes a detriment. Overall, spot-on aesthetics and atmosphere lack the strength to save The Crescent from its meager plot and weak characters.

Chelsea Phillips-Carr

The 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival is held from 7 to 17 September 2017.

Chelsea Phillips-Carr is a writer and film critic from Toronto.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Falling-Down film review Falling-Down film review

Joel Schumacher’s Falling Down Poses Some Serious Questions

Film

The Big Lebowski The Big Lebowski

25 Years Later: Aggression Will Not Stand in The Big Lebowski

Film

The Academy Awards: The Best Picture Losers The Academy Awards: The Best Picture Losers

50 Best Movies That Did Not Win Best Picture at the Oscars

Film

The Academy Awards: The Best Picture Losers The Academy Awards: The Best Picture Losers

50 Best Movies to not Win Best Picture at the Oscars

Film

Blueback film review Blueback film review

Blueback Doesn’t Dive Deep Enough

Film

Pathaan Pathaan

Pathaan Completes the Westernization of Bollywood

Culture

The Last of Us Left Behind The Last of Us Left Behind

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye on The Last of Us “Left Behind”

TV

The Last of Us Look for the Light The Last of Us Look for the Light

The Last of Us Season One Ends the Only Way It Knows How with “Look for the Light”

TV

Brother movie review Brother movie review

Brother is a Well-acted but Overwrought Account of 1990s Scarborough

Film

The Last of Us When We Are in Need The Last of Us When We Are in Need

Everyone’s a Monster In The Last of Us “When We Are in Need”

TV

Inside Movie Review Inside Movie Review

Being Trapped Inside with Willem Dafoe’s Art Thief is (Mostly) Great

Film

The Mandalorian Season 2 Phenomenally Flaunts The Potential of Storytelling With Star Wars The Mandalorian Season 2 Phenomenally Flaunts The Potential of Storytelling With Star Wars

The Mandalorian Starts Season 3 with a Good Episode but an Okay Premiere in “The Apostate”

Culture

Roberto Benigni at the 71st Academy Awards Roberto Benigni at the 71st Academy Awards

The Most Iconic Moments at the Oscars

Culture

The Mandalorian: Grogu’s Most Adorable Moments The Mandalorian: Grogu’s Most Adorable Moments

The Mandalorian: Grogu’s Most Adorable Moments

Culture

John Wick: Chapter 4 Review John Wick: Chapter 4 Review

John Wick: Chapter 4 Is an Action Epic for the Ages

Film

Idiot’s Delight – Happy 25th, Big Lebowski Idiot’s Delight – Happy 25th, Big Lebowski

Idiot’s Delight – Happy 25th, Big Lebowski

Film

Connect