It’s been a really busy couple of weeks, not to mention my crazy brain has had me buzzing all over the place, so trying to sit still for five minutes to watch a film has been a challenge. And truth be told, when I did finally sit down to review “In the Flesh,” I was slightly concerned that it might have me restless and avoidant for a whole other host of reasons.
However, “In the Flesh” is far more than what it says on the tin with its gore implied title. Instead, it offers a tense, slow-burn thrill ride that keeps you on your toes and covering your eyes until the very end.
A Thriller that Subverts Expectations
The film opens with Ted (Tanner Goldberg) pulling into an abandoned car park late at night whilst on the phone, and going to collect something from what is presumably his workplace. On returning to his car—still on the phone—we see another vehicle pull into the carpark and a hooded figure emerges (uh oh). However, before he can make it into the safety of his car, he is grabbed from behind, drugged with a piece of cloth over his mouth and awakens in the basement of the aforementioned stranger’s house.
I’d like to reiterate again how nervous I was at this point. I’m a big horror fan, but I do not do well with body horror or intense gore. Everything at this stage implied I was going to have to force myself through another version of “Hostel” or something of that variety. Protagonist wakes up in a stranger’s basement, chained to the wall, with a creepy dude pointing a camera and threatening him with an electric knife cutter (that weirdly reminded me of the one my grandma used to have)? It wasn’t looking good, and I had my trusty pillow on side to cover my eyes through what I assumed would be some pretty severe and bloody mutilation scenes.
Yet what I love most about “In the Flesh” is it took a completely different turn to what I’d initially thought. After, quite bizarrely, having to declare over and over again that his name is David, our victim is forced to watch a home video where we see his kidnapper, Jeremy (played by Chad Malen, who gave off mega Ethan Hawke vibes and delivered a first class performance throughout), filming his relatives during a family gathering, that features his brother, who is named David.
Tantalising and Tragic
Without wanting to give away too much, I highly recommend giving this a watch. We learn through further home footage that Jeremy’s brother, David, suffered with a terminal illness that resulted in his death. And even more bizarrely, Jeremy has produced a series of scripts whereby he forces captive Ted to perform the part of his brother ‘in the flesh’, and to re-enact multiple conversations and scenes that occurred between Jeremy and his brother before his demise.
It’s tense, tantalising and, in my opinion, tragic. And whilst there isn’t much movement throughout—the entire film takes place in mostly one or two room—it serves as an incredibly well-crafted, close study of how grief and loss can so swiftly descend into madness. I enjoyed its simplicity. There is no need for an overbearing soundtrack to detract from tension and suspense that gradually builds throughout. And its utter unpredictability that is always refreshing with this genre.
And the real star of the show, in my opinion, was Jeremy, who managed to play and portray a complex, clearly disturbed character in such a short amount of time. In fact, the entire film is extremely well-developed, given its short run-time.
Look for More from Connor Doyle
A commendable, thrilling short by Chicago writer and director Connor Doyle, will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for upcoming productions.
“In the Flesh” is now available to watch on Amazon Prime. You can watch the trailer in the window below.
