Absentia (2011)

10 Comments

1. 

   Greg (gregmoroberts@yahoo.com) from Oakville, Ontario
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   Eerie. Ingenious. Creepy. Brilliant.
   
   Normally, we save these words for later in a review. That way we can bore our readers with details of a plot and any information on the actors or the characters they portrayed. But we were so taken by Mike Flanagan's Absentia that we needed to catch your attention right off the bat.
   
   Eerie. Ingenious. Creepy. Brilliant.
   
   Absentia opens with a mystery already afoot. Tricia's (Courtney Bell) husband has been missing for seven years and her rehabbed sister Callie (Katie Parker) has moved in with her at the same time the State is issuing a Death Certificate for the missing Daniel (Morgan Peter Brown). Tricia is pregnant and looking to finally put the seven years of grief and speculation as to what might have happened behind her when she begins to have visions of her husband – visions that are terrifying and downright spooky.
   
   With the encouragement of her sister Callie, Tricia goes on a date with an investigator on her husband's case. But she gets no further than a few steps from the house, when Daniel mysteriously appears on the street – pale and disoriented. Questions abound. Where has he been? Was he molested or injured in any way? And who kept him and fed him all these years (stomach contents reveal a grotesque discovery)? Daniel is unable to either respond or unwilling to assist in the investigation. But it is clear he has been through a traumatic experience that left him almost dead.
   
   Meanwhile, Callie meets a strange and helpless man in a tunnel she uses as part of her jogging route. The man seems confused and surprised that Callie can see him. When Daniel miraculously returns after seven years, Callie begins to piece together a strange puzzle of disappearances in the area that include the man she saw in the tunnel the day earlier and others who have gone missing over the past 100 years. A frightening conversation with Daniel later reveals even more horrifying details. A story of a creature that lives in the walls that kidnaps and keeps its victims under the city is presented by Daniel just before he is again captured by the unknown entity. It is then up to Callie and Tricia to try and rationalize the events of the last 24-hours while struggling with the sanity of the situation that reveals itself to be supernatural.
   
   Absentia is one of those rare independent films that jumps out and grabs you. The performances by Parker and Bell hit the bull's-eye and it is their relationship that drives the first half of the film. Daniel's appearance takes Absentia in an unexpected direction and it is a direction full of incredible unseen possibilities with a few good jolts thrown in for good measure.
   
   There was rarely a hint of the usual 'I-knew-that-was-coming' that is so rampant in screeners' thought processes while watching a modern day thriller/horror. Every scene and every note brought the audience further down the rabbit hole and nothing was clear or easily spelled-out for a remedial or simpleton viewer.
   
   All the above makes Absentia one of the best horror films of the 2011 year. It was brilliantly acted while it methodically unfolded a complex story that leaves much to the imagination. In short, it was eerie, ingenious, creepy and brilliant.
   
   http://www.killerreviews.com

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2. 

   dcanfield-155-608518 from United States
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   For those of us who see a lot of indie horror films the dread is almost palpable. What fresh hell will this be? In a sea of blood, boobs and beasts we are looking for the rare gem, the film that says something and has the power to unnerve us. Absentia is such a gem. A haunting meditation on grief and man's fear of the unknown, Absentia is head and shoulders above the competition. I'm proud to be hosting a screening of it with star Doug Jones in attendance on October 8 in Chicago. Come on out. But whatever you do take this of of the "I've heard of it" pile and transfer it to the "watch tonite" pile. Absentia is an unnerving film full of great performances that doesn't lose the human equation in it's search for scares. There is also an opportunity for deep thought and viewer discussion about the nature of religious faith. dare I use the word Lovecraftian? This is that good. Director Mike Flanagan has an acclaimed short under his belt titled Oculus. I'll be looking that up as soon as I finish typing this review.

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3. 

   Gidim_Xul from Sweden, Munkfors
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   After hearing our good friend James DePaolo over at CinemaHeadCheese.com giving this some damn good comments, I figured it would be something worth checking out. I've been in need of a good horror movie to really get into my head, and one from 2011 couldn't sound any better. "Absentia" is that movie. It's one of the movies I will remember 10 months from now when I start making my "Best of 2011" list. The year has just started, but if the past years have taught me anything, it is that great movies are rare.
   
   The movie takes its time to explain the background story to you early in the movie by having our lead character, Tricia, put up missing person posters. Gradually from that, we also find out that he has been gone for 7 years. And then we have Callie, her sister. Callie moved away 5 years ago but has just gotten back in town and is gonna live with Tricia. Tricia has just accepted that her husband is actually gone and won't be coming back, when she all of the sudden starts seeing him everywhere. A therapist explains this to her by saying that it's her mind processing the acceptance. But when Callie is out jogging one day, she meets a strange man in a tunnel who she later finds out is another missing person. One of many in the neighborhood.
   
   There is a lot going on in the movie, but it always takes the time to make sure you follow the events. Even though many things are unexplained and hard to grasp, it's so perfectly thought-out that you never feel cheated, instead you keep your mind working constantly to connect everything. And this is what makes the movie so great, there are so many levels of things. By the time the movie ended I couldn't even decide what I thought was going on in the movie, I literally had three different solutions to the whole film. Which one is the right one, I don't know. And I don't care, I love it this way.
   
   It's a movie that works in the most simple of ways, and it never goes over-the-top. Unlike most supernatural / psychological horror movies out there this works strictly with the atmosphere, the story, the mood and the emotions, and it couldn't possibly do a better job. The actors are all terrific and they all help us sell this story.
   
   If I had to be really picky about something it would have to be some of the jump scares. Not because they are jump scares (which we all know are cheap ways to scare), because they are carefully placed and all that, but the sound is often what sells them and here they weren't as effective as they could've been. But it gives the scares a more subtle tone which helps building the atmosphere yet again, so it's really a double-edged sword.
   
   "Absentia" is an important movie, it shows what good thinking can do compared to good effects. It puts you into the misery of our characters and has you constantly trying to figure out what is really going on. There was not a second of this movie that I thought dragged on, even though things sometimes move slowly. There is nothing better than a slow movie that really has you hooked, because only then can it really get you to feel and care for the characters, and "Absentia" manages to do just that. A must see!

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4. 

   james_depaolo (james_depaolo@hotmail.com) from United States
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   Absentia is the story of two sisters, Callie and Tricia. We find out 7 years ago Tricia's husband Daniel just one day vanished. She is now pregnant and still posting missing person bulletins. Callie, is a former drug user and an in and out of trouble lost soul. She comes to help Tricia out. Tricia is at the point now after all this time, that they can declare Daniel legally dead. But, Tricia is not so sure if he really is dead. She has been seeing visions of him. While Tricia has moved on with her life to some degree, she still questions what happened that night. Callie goes for a jog one day and goes through a tunnel that changes everything.
   
   This is the film Paranormal Activity wanted to be. This film was well written and with a great bunch of actors. Absentia has so much to brag about. It had some great jump moments. It had a sub-plot that really added to the film. I was mad when this film ended. I wanted at least 30 more minutes. I loved this film that much. The running time was a little over 90 minutes but you get so into the story that the time flies by so fast. I did not want to talk about what happens with the tunnel.
   
   As a fan, I would have been mad to read about a film I would like to see, and a critic just tell me everything about it, the twists and the end. The 2011 end of the year top ten is a long way off, but this film will be on it. I know right now it is playing some festivals and circuits. This is a good old fashioned thought provoking drama-horror. There is a tiny bit of blood, no nudity and some harsh language, but not too much. A film a family can watch together and not be worried about the content being too adult which is a breath of fresh air sometimes. I recommend everyone see this movie now.

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5. 

   imoan1212 from Chicago, IL
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   I really enjoyed this movie. I was lucky to see it at the Chicago Horror Film Festival. I thought this movie was really well directed, written, and acted. It was a smart film that really grabs you and keeps you interested. I enjoyed how subtle it was and how it built the storyline and character development in a very even and realistic way. I always enjoy good story-telling and this movie really has it. I saw this movie four days ago and yet I keep thinking about it. I keep thinking about that tunnel. There is a tunnel close by my house that looks just like it. Makes me think twice about walking through it… I really enjoy how this movie keeps me thinking. I can't help but wonder what happens to you once the tunnel gets you?

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6. 

   klimari from United States
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   Last night, with not much fare on cable, I decided to watch Absentia. A recent horror film by Mike Flanagan.
   
   First off let me start by saying that horror is my favorite genre. Not your "slasher" flicks though… but well crafted Gothic horror like Robert Wise's original THE HAUNTING.
   
   Creepy atmospheric films that get you thinking and make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
   
   You can read the synopsis here on IMDb, so I won't go into that. As far as reviews go, Variety couldn't have said it any better! (http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945387/)
   
   The low budget only proves that a cool story, some nice direction, well paced editing and a more than capable cast don't need to come from a big Hollywood studio… and they rarely do these days!
   
   At times the scares are so subtle (ala the cult classic B film, "Let's Scare Jessica to Death") you won't believe your own eyes. Is Daniel really there or a figment of his wife's (played brilliantly I might add by Courtney Bell) imagination?.
   
   The real standout here though is Mike Flanagan, the writer/director.
   
   I await his next project with great anticipation! 8 out of 10 stars!
   
   PS-Notice some of the character references to some horror director icons. Carpenter, Del Toro, Romero… :)

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7. 

   Evan A. Baker from Glendale, CA
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   The contemporary horror scene is glutted with tired rehashes of familiar concepts and an over-reliance on quick jump scares, with far too little in the way of character-driven, nuanced, complex storytelling. Absentia is definitely an exception to these low standards.
   
   The core ideas are both original and clever, and, while supernatural and high-concept, they are totally rooted in the characters and their relationships. The human drama is fundamental to, rather than coincidental with, the structure of the narrative. The script even takes the risk of presenting multiple audience-identification characters among its leads, which in less careful hands could run the risk of alienating viewers used to having a single, simple narrative point of view, but the differing perspectives – psychological and emotional – of the two leads are well-balanced and complementary.
   
   There are a couple of effective jump scares early on, but, as the story progresses, the thrust moves entirely to the slow burn, with the carefully maintained atmosphere and psychological implications of the scenario serving as the locus of the horror.

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8. 

   doublefacedj from United States
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   This great little indie flick was the gem of this year's Shriekfest in Hollywood. Closing the festival (and winning the top prize), it surprised me with its restraint and emotional core. Writer/Director Mike Flanagan doesn't dish out a single scare moment until well into the first act, setting a brooding tone and letting the audience know and love the main characters.
   
   The story has the great simplicity of a horror premise (folks disappear beneath a creepy local bridge) and the complexity that can only come from experienced screen writing. Each character – even the horror cliché of two hard-boiled and disbelieving cops – has something personal at stake in the story. The dialog and plot twists are superior to most major studio releases and almost every single moment is effective, due in large part to the great acting in every single role.
   
   This is low budget, to be sure, with every single visual effect deliberately out of focus or glimpsed in the tiniest slivers of light, but while that might drive the gore hounds nuts I found it refreshing. This is definitely one to purchase on DVD and watch for this creative team on future projects.

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9. 

   jhanke-2 from United States
   23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

   As the Editor of MicroFilmmaker Magazine, we see a lot of low-budget films come through our doors. Mike Flanagan's work continues to be some of the best work we critique! Absentia is no exception in this history of impressive work. He manages to make the commonplace turn surreal and spooky! As Oculus made you look out of the corner of your eyes at ornate mirrors, Absentia will make you look out of the corner of your eyes at foot tunnels! If you like suspense or horror, then Flanagan's work is a no-brainer! (There is a reason they were able to double their production budget at Kickstarter! It's because it really had the potential to be a great film and, afterwards, lived up to the possibility!)

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10. 

    Big_Joe_D from United States
    23 Nov 2011, 8:25 am

    In Mike Flanagan's "Absentia," you barely see the monster. In fact, you might be unsure if there even IS a monster.
    
    And that's the film's genius. You will question what is real, and what isn't. Is there a "monster," or are the mysteries happening within the characters' psyches? Courtney Bell and Katie Parker shine as Tricia and Callie, sisters who begin experiencing some frighteningly odd occurrences after Tricia makes the decision to apply to name Tricia's husband, Daniel (Morgan Peter Brown) dead "in absentia" after he disappeared seven years ago.
    
    Daniel begins appearing to Tricia in dreams, and you wonder if his appearances are being caused less by a haunting and more by the stress she feels at filing the "in absentia" paperwork while being pregnant with the baby of another guy.
    
    Callie also starts seeing things in the tunnel adjacent to Tricia's home. Namely, she meets an emaciated man (played by indie-horror favorite Doug Jones) who seems shocked that Callie can actually see him.
    
    The story (also written by Flanagan) starts as tepid exposition and rises, scene by scene, to a boiler of a psychological horror that will have you wondering until the very end whether what you (and the characters) are seeing is real.

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