Slapface
"Where do monsters come from?"
A boy deals with the loss of his mother by creating a relationship with a dangerous monster.
Top Cast
-
August Maturo
Lucas
-
Mike Manning
Tom
-
Libe Barer
Anna
-
Mirabelle Lee
Moriah
-
Bianca D'Ambrosio
Donna
-
Chiara D'Ambrosio
Rose
-
Lukas Hassel
The Monster
-
Dan Hedaya
Sheriff John Thurston
-
Alixx Schottland
Mrs. Blair
Overview
A boy deals with the loss of his mother by creating a relationship with a dangerous monster.
Rating
6.0
/ 10
65 Reviews 1 Popular
1 Reviews
- tmdb280390237 Aug 30, 2022
The title Slapface suggests a dumb horror flick like Slender Man or The Bye Bye Man; fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. This atmospheric, intriguing film written and directed by Jeremiah Kipp is the antithesis of a Dead Teenager Movie, and while it revolves around a supernatural element, its true, underlying horror is sadly quotidian. More than just a horror film, Kipp has crafted a modern fable, and his allegorical approach takes what could have been a heavy-handed and opportunistic lecture and transforms it into an oblique and subtle message (at least right until the closing credits). At the center of it all is a performance by August Maturo that’s, well, mature beyond his 14 years of age. He is Lucas, an orphaned boy living in a cabin on the outskirts of a small town with his older brother and quote-unquote guardian Tom (Mike Manning), a functional alcoholic. Mike disguises his physical abuse of Lucas under the pretense of the titular “game.” Lucas is also tormented physically by “the twins” (Bianca D'Ambrosio and Chiara D'Ambrosio), and emotionally by their friend Moriah (Mirabelle Lee), who’s either a victim of peer pressure or a sadistic little bitch. This is a decidedly character-driven story, shot on locations that are both realistic and ethereal (the spooky autumnal woods of Newburgh, New York are a character in their own right). Even the “Monster,” played by actor Lukas Hassel in prosthetic makeup, is spared a GCI status. Now, making a literal monster out of bullying (if this is indeed Kipp’s intention) – might seem too transparent a choice (and the closing caption sort of defeats the purpose of making an allegory in the first place) , but it’s not as simple as all that. Slapface’s monster isn’t a one-dimensional beast like the ones in, say, A Quiet Place – I’d even go so far as to say that it has quite a bit in common with Frankenstein’s creature, and its ambiguity cleverly parallels Moriah’s treatment of Lucas. The film’s conclusion is not exactly optimistic, but at least it’s not the obligatory shot suggesting that the evil will continue.
Trailers & Clips
Recommendations
A masked maniac terrorizes the same small community where a murderer known as the Phantom Killer struck decades earlier.
The Town that Dreaded Sundown
5.8 2014
Oliver, a lonely autistic boy, seeks solace and refuge in his ever-present cell phone and tablet. When a mysterious creature uses the boy's devices against him, his parents must fight to save their son from the monster beyond the screen.
Come Play
6.4 2020
A new father going through a marital separation joins a dating app and matches with a beautiful but mysterious young woman... whose powers of seduction and manipulation entangle him in a mystery more horrifying than he could have ever imagined.
Succubus
8.5 2024
Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother. While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy, the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
Rent-A-Pal
6.5 2020
Moira Cole endeavors to rebuild her shattered life after her family's murder at the hands of her deranged and obsessed cousin.
Bloodline Killer
6.0 2024
Shortly after moving into a dark, brooding mansion, a psychologist and his co-workers are terrorized by a horrible evil being.
The Evil
5.8 1978
A man with the ability to exorcise demons fights to protect his loved ones after a sudden surge in demonic possessions. After discovering his nephew's girlfriend has the same supernatural gift, they join forces for the ultimate confrontation. Inspired by actual events.
The Possessed
6.3 2021
Criminology student Chloe fakes her own death to break into a morgue, in order to retrieve a piece of evidence that ties her younger brother to a crime gone wrong. Once inside, she discovers that a sadistic coroner is using the corpses for his sick and twisted business, and when he realises that Chloe still has a pulse, a terrifying game of cat and mouse ensues.
Play Dead
6.1 2022
A troubled young man is drawn to a mythical place called Midian where a variety of friendly monsters are hiding from humanity. Meanwhile, a sadistic serial killer is looking for a patsy.
Nightbreed
6.4 1990
Evan values family above all else, and anyone who gets between him, his wife, and newborn son learns that the hard way. But when it comes to violent tendencies, it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Bloodline
5.9 2019