LHS reviews LOST SOULS here, and that's a film that we've been hearing some wonderful word on. Beginning back with Moriarty's look at the supernatural films from Hollywood this year, and continuing through ol Light House Shine's review here. Man... I can't wait to let my skin crawl...
I am just so lucky, as I get to see all these really different and
for the most part really good New Line films. Months before their official
release date. That normally I wouldn't be able to see, as New Line just
doesn't mass test their stuff as much as some other companies do. Which is
both a good and a bad thing, bad for me, but Okay for them I guess. As I
imagine that said unheavily tested films would have to rely more on the
director or writer's original vision, rather than the demented yearning of
the majority at large. As truly sometimes the majority does not rule,
especially when it comes to matters of taste or good film making!. Which
definitely applies in the case of Lost Souls, as this truly was a
fine film in numerous ways.
Especially since Lost Souls is the first film in a very long time,
more so the first horror film, that truly tries to present the
audience with a (singular) unique vision. Both in terms of look and feel,
as this film definitely conveyed a really great, dark, gritty tone to it
that only helped but enhance the overall (Gothic/horrific) qualities of
the film as a whole. As the entire film was shot in very low or dark
light, mostly in shadowy greys and hues of sky blue ( Though not so dark
it was depressing, like in 7even). Which I really loved, especially
during the opening exorcism scene. Where we get to see a pixieish Maya
Larkin (a much more adult and satisfyingly grim seeming Winona Ryder)
being exorcised by Father Lareaux (Nicely if not all too briefly played by
John Hurt, who always does a nice job whenever he is on screen). Which is
how she became to be associated with the Catholic Church and a small band
of priests, sanctioned by the Church to perform exorcisms on those deemed
to be "officially" possessed by the Catholic Church. All of which was
taken very seriously by the film and the subsequent cast, which really
made a difference. As I liked the serious, but not too serious tone that
the film aspired to and actually achieved on an almost constant basis. A
rarity in films nowadays, which is a shame. As such (on screen) behavior
usually make a film much more enjoyable, if you are not laughing your way
through the material ( Especially if it was not meant to be funny in the
first place).
As Lost Souls is anything but silly or childish, as the film tells
the surprisingly suspenseful tale of the prophecized coming of Satan among
man. A vital bit of information discovered by accident during a botched
exorcism of a severely possessed (and evil) mental patient, who apparently
only killed because he was doing Satan's bidding ( Though that's not what
the world at large believes). That Maya and her subsequent band of
exorcists use to prevent the (1st?) coming of Satan, by attempting to
decipher the cryptic notes done by the unfortunately (still) possessed
man. Which Maya ultimately realizes reveals the name of the person that
Satan has chosen to be his earthly vessel, one Peter Kelson ( A nice
enough Ben Chaplin, who sounds a bit odd with an American accent). A noted
criminal journalist, who neither believes in God nor the Devil, due to a
traumatic childhood where he apparently lost all his faith in everything,
especially human nature (they never tell you for sure, but his parents
apparently died a somewhat horrific and untimely death). Who believes in
it even less after he is confronted by Maya and her cohorts, as they
attempt to convince him that he will be taken over by Satan at some future
date and time. Which make for some truly creepy scenes, as Peter Kelson
discovers that things are not what they seem and the people around him are
not who he thought they were. Especially since paranoia is always a great
scene motivator in any film, as long as it is done right, and in Lost
Souls it most certainly was.
Now I really do not want to spoil the ending of this film, though I will
say that it is not some big drag out fight between good and evil. As
luckily the film had the maturity and the good sense overall to not
pander to such an audience. As this film is thankfully a lot more subtle
than that, by taken the high road as it were to film making. By making the
audience actually work for it's own conclusions, as well as, I assume,
purposely not revealing everything about anyone or anything completely.
As there are a lot of things in the film that do require some thought,
which is not always the case in most of the films that Hollywood has put
out. So to actually think about a film hours after you have seen it, as
well as be able to have a fairly involved conversation about it no less,
is rather a pleasurable thing if not refreshing. Regardless of ones
religious backgrounds, as ultimately this is not simply a film about God
and Satan, as that would be way too clear cut. As Lost Souls is
about the decisions we make or are faced with in our every day lives and
the consequence of said decisions and ultimately the price we pay as a
result of those decisions. Once again with some really fine acting and
cinematography thrown in, all of which really makes this horror/thriller a
lot better the majority of films in similar genres.
Sincerely,
Light House Shines
