Where do I start with Plank Face? It's so weird that I felt like I needed to share my thoughts but I have no idea where to start. I picked this up at Cinema Wasteland and first I have to say that I don't DISLIKE the film at all. I do not think it's a bad film. Don't let my 5/10 give you the wrong idea, I use the 10 scale where 5 means I'm really in the middle.
The film is about a man who is kidnapped and raped by a feral mountain family with the goal of turning him into their new alpha, except that he is accepts that position in an unbelievably short amount of time. That's technically a spoiler except the back of the box gives it away; it gives only the question "Will he be broken or find their ways alluring?" (leaving out the third option clearly points in the direction they chose). This is where the film loses me most. The main character goes from being tortured, raped, force fed testicles, and treated like a thing yet in the course of what the film makes seem like only a FEW DAYS he totally changes his entire outlook on everything in life, abandoning everything from his past including loved ones he fought so hard to protect just days earlier. Why? Well, who knows. The film definitely doesn't explain his change of attitude. Not only does he join the family, he is totally cool with ALL of them including the ones who tortured him most. I could have bought his turn more if he killed Grandma and The Bride, leaving the only crazy family member who consistently treated him well. As is his disregard for "the old ways" is so jarring and out of nowhere that I could no longer enjoy the story. The way the story was presented to me I did not believe at all why he would suddenly murder innocent people for a family that nailed his feet to the floor and raped him. While on topic of the story the pacing of this felt very off. Act 1 is pretty perfect but after that I quickly found myself bored and distracted, constantly feeling like NOTHING was happening in movie.
Okay so I really disliked the story. What about the rest? Well the lead actor plays his role well. The rest of the family also plays their roles really well, as they were written at least. They're weird, they don't talk, they randomly picked this dude as opposed to any of the dozen of other male victims they've had (who is to say any of the other guys they killed would have been ready to murder?). But again, as they were written, the cast did nail the themes and looks they were aiming for. Full success from all of the actors for the family. Max's girlfriend in the film is given little to do so becomes forgettable to me and we get a fantastic cameo from Dave Parker who is also given little but elevates his creep factor to 11.
If you are expecting a slasher film, which would be fair given the cover and the trailer, you will be let down. There are only a few kills in the film and they're okay. However this is NOT a slasher film and isn't really meant to be, it's a psychological horror. It's meant to make you uncomfortable, which it does in spades. The gore factor here is unimportant, but if that's what you want there is little to have.
I know I'm speaking a lot of ill but I have to also say the following positives: The film LOOK amazing. It's well shot, well lit, and just the overall cinematography is great. The music is probably my favorite music in a horror film in recent memory. The creepy synths and slow beats compliment the film in a really beautiful way and when the story was losing me, the music usually roped me back in. Brian Williams did multiple things on this film, but deserves (in my opinion) the largest praise possible for the score.
So is Plank Face bad? Not at all, regardless of how the first chunk of my review read. Now I do absolutely think the script has some major problems with story telling and showing the main character's arc and that's a big deal to me. But the other bits really come down to pure subjectivity: This is CLEARLY not my kind of film. I am not the target audience for Plank Face at all. I prefer light, fun horror and this was a harsh, visceral, psychological story which is well shot, well acted, and very well scored.
Do I still think it has some major script issues? Yes, I can love films in genres I don't enjoy if the story is strong. However, the film DOES do so much else SO RIGHT that if you're a fan of deeper, darker, more serious horror you will very likely enjoy the film.
I recommend the film for those people that this sounds appealing to, I am confident that you will love it. But it was a mixed bag for me.
The film is about a man who is kidnapped and raped by a feral mountain family with the goal of turning him into their new alpha, except that he is accepts that position in an unbelievably short amount of time. That's technically a spoiler except the back of the box gives it away; it gives only the question "Will he be broken or find their ways alluring?" (leaving out the third option clearly points in the direction they chose). This is where the film loses me most. The main character goes from being tortured, raped, force fed testicles, and treated like a thing yet in the course of what the film makes seem like only a FEW DAYS he totally changes his entire outlook on everything in life, abandoning everything from his past including loved ones he fought so hard to protect just days earlier. Why? Well, who knows. The film definitely doesn't explain his change of attitude. Not only does he join the family, he is totally cool with ALL of them including the ones who tortured him most. I could have bought his turn more if he killed Grandma and The Bride, leaving the only crazy family member who consistently treated him well. As is his disregard for "the old ways" is so jarring and out of nowhere that I could no longer enjoy the story. The way the story was presented to me I did not believe at all why he would suddenly murder innocent people for a family that nailed his feet to the floor and raped him. While on topic of the story the pacing of this felt very off. Act 1 is pretty perfect but after that I quickly found myself bored and distracted, constantly feeling like NOTHING was happening in movie.
Okay so I really disliked the story. What about the rest? Well the lead actor plays his role well. The rest of the family also plays their roles really well, as they were written at least. They're weird, they don't talk, they randomly picked this dude as opposed to any of the dozen of other male victims they've had (who is to say any of the other guys they killed would have been ready to murder?). But again, as they were written, the cast did nail the themes and looks they were aiming for. Full success from all of the actors for the family. Max's girlfriend in the film is given little to do so becomes forgettable to me and we get a fantastic cameo from Dave Parker who is also given little but elevates his creep factor to 11.
If you are expecting a slasher film, which would be fair given the cover and the trailer, you will be let down. There are only a few kills in the film and they're okay. However this is NOT a slasher film and isn't really meant to be, it's a psychological horror. It's meant to make you uncomfortable, which it does in spades. The gore factor here is unimportant, but if that's what you want there is little to have.
I know I'm speaking a lot of ill but I have to also say the following positives: The film LOOK amazing. It's well shot, well lit, and just the overall cinematography is great. The music is probably my favorite music in a horror film in recent memory. The creepy synths and slow beats compliment the film in a really beautiful way and when the story was losing me, the music usually roped me back in. Brian Williams did multiple things on this film, but deserves (in my opinion) the largest praise possible for the score.
So is Plank Face bad? Not at all, regardless of how the first chunk of my review read. Now I do absolutely think the script has some major problems with story telling and showing the main character's arc and that's a big deal to me. But the other bits really come down to pure subjectivity: This is CLEARLY not my kind of film. I am not the target audience for Plank Face at all. I prefer light, fun horror and this was a harsh, visceral, psychological story which is well shot, well acted, and very well scored.
Do I still think it has some major script issues? Yes, I can love films in genres I don't enjoy if the story is strong. However, the film DOES do so much else SO RIGHT that if you're a fan of deeper, darker, more serious horror you will very likely enjoy the film.
I recommend the film for those people that this sounds appealing to, I am confident that you will love it. But it was a mixed bag for me.
