Not many people get to make a movie with their parents, but Hellbender is very much a family affair.
Couple John Adams and Toby Poser and their daughter Zelda co-helm, write and star in this peculiar beast inspired by their earlier musical project and shot in their home during lockdown.
Poser ( Mother ) and Zelda ( Izzy ) star as a mum and daughter caught up in their family’s historical ties to witchcraft.
The trio’s film begins with someone who is harder to kill than Superman before transitioning to the first of many rock music video-like interludes.
The tunes in Hellbender , while not for the musically faint of heart, are a blast and really add energy to a slow and simple tale.
It’s really all about the bond and endearing chemistry between Mother and Izzy , helped no end by the real-life closeness between the two stars.
Izzy is innocent, awkward and easygoing as she starts out oblivious to her powerful potential, while Mother does her best to prevent her from encountering the possible dangers of the outside world.
As well as the aforementioned musical breaks, the co-helmers create striking psychedelic visions often bathed in white and containing blood-splattered faces.
The film has an otherworldly feeling right from the start and the surrounding woods and water tie into Izzy and Mother’s elemental auras and potency.
There are lots of shots taken from above ground, which is very appropriate given more than one character find themselves vertically off their feet.
Ultimately, all of these visual tricks and treats help mask a plot that doesn’t have a great deal to it.
And anyone outside of the lead duo, whether it be Adams’ Uncle or Izzy’s would-be friend Amber - played by the directing couple’s other daughter Lulu - only exists to fill time and hasten Izzy’s transformation.
However, a late deep dive underground unveils a chilling “happy place” and the unleashing of a potentially harrowing future for Izzy and her mum.
Hellbender lacks depth and takes time to breathe, but family filmmaking is rarely this original, intriguing and visually and audibly stimulating.
● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.
● Hellbender is available to own on DVD now.
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