Absentia Movie Review
Absentia Movie Review
Directed by Mike Flanagan, starring Morgan Peter Brown, Katie Parker, and Courtney Bell.
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Daniel is dead. But is he gone? (This is a full-on fright flick, so you can bet not.)
Absentia is the story of a widow (kind of) and her attempt get on with her life after her husband Daniel disappears (mysteriously, of course). This was seven years ago and Tricia's moved on (she must have: she's pregnant, for Pete's sake!). She wants to give herself some peace from her tireless yet fruitless ongoing quest, but is feeling guilty about giving up. Tricia's wildcard sister, Callie, is trying to be supportive in pushing to have Daniel declared legally dead "in absentia" but her efforts aren't necessarily appreciated. This definitive action throws the ladies for a loop, prompting trips to a family therapist and inducing terrifying appearances as hibernating hubby comes to life in the form of a petulant, angry ghost. While the spousal spirit flits between the veils of life and death Tricia wrestles with her conscience, and a peculiar Missing Persons detective segues into the supernatural skirmish.
Absentia, in spite of its obvious low budget (over-lit, flat-looking, hollow sound and shaky acting from some of the cast), does its job very well in the suspense department — better than many of its bigger-budgeted brethren. There is one chilling scene in particular (which, incidentally, *is* nicely lit and well-acted) featuring superstar character actor Doug Jones in a cameo as someone who may or may not be transient living in the lonely tunnel through which Callie runs every day during her exercise routine. Other solid scare scenes include a tense moment in the therapist's office where Daniel makes a glowering entrance, and another in which Ryan David Leack's effective score led me to believe one thing just before the complete opposite of the action was revealed.
Absentia is script-heavy which is good in this case, as writer-director Mike Flanagan chose to avoid going for gore effects (and, thanks be to the gods, no on-the-cheap CGI) and to focus on character instead. Katie Parker and Courtney Bell are authentic as sisters (in spite of some clunky dialogue here and there), becoming even believable as the tale delves into their back-stories and puts each of them deeper into peril. You will actually care about what happens to them, and you'll want to know why Daniel disappeared and how he's managed to come back.
Having said all that… Absentia is not a great movie, not one I'll be watching again — however, I will be on the lookout for whatever Flanagan does next with more money and better resources.
Absentia is playing in Los Angeles this weekend at the Shriekfest Film Festival.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson
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