Astral

Astral is a captivating British suspense-thriller film from 2018, directed by Chris Mul and featuring a talented cast, including Damson Idris, Frank Dillane, and Catherine Steadman. The film is an amalgamation of elements from various genres such as drama, thriller, and horror. It serves as a supernatural exploration of human relationships and existential realities, wrapped in the intensity of dark occult practices.

The narrative centers around Alex Harmann, an introspective and ambitious young man played by Frank Dillane. Alex is a college student at the Royal Holloway, completing his studies in Astrophysics. He is seen struggling to come to terms with a deep-seated tragedy from his past – the untimely demise of his mother. As he delves deep into his academics, the academic subject develops an uncanny link to his personal life. He begins to study the realm of the astral plane, seeking to fill the emotional void left by his mother's death.

Driven by a longing to reconnect with his deceased mother, Alex uses his newfound knowledge to experiment with astral projection. Astral projection, a form of intentional out-of-body experience, is often associated in various cultures with the process of the soul leaving the body. In the film, Alex's attempts to venture into the astral plane are envisioned both as a scientific experiment and a spiritual journey.

Damson Idris's character, Jordan Knight, is Alex's trusted and loyal best friend. As Alex's only family-like figure in the world, Jordan becomes increasingly concerned about his well-being as he plunges deeper into the astral realms' dangerous exploration. Their friendship, strained and tested by the supernatural happenings, unfolds in tandem with the thrilling elements of the story.

Catherine Steadman plays the role of Claire Harmann, Alex's estranged sister who returns home to become his primary emotional support. As life becomes increasingly mysterious and dire, their bond deepens through shared isolation and fear, tempering the escalating tension with a touch of human warmth.

The film's chilling atmosphere is amplified by its impressive cinematography, adeptly capturing the quiet eeriness of London's cozier side, rather than its typical bustling cityscape. Quintessentially British, the setting and the tone of the film are grounded subtly and coherently in the Royal Holloway campus's aesthetically pleasing architecture and its surrounding quiet towns.

Despite being an intense supernatural thriller, Astral also weaves in profound themes of emotional healing, interpersonal relationships, guilt, and dealing with personal traumas. Alex's journey is as much psychological as it is paranormal. His guilt-driven struggle to connect with his mother delves deep into the human psyche's scared and hurt corners.

Astral is also noteworthy for its exploration of academic curiosity. It bridges the gap between natural science and the supernatural, challenging the viewers' preconceptions and situating the narrative in an ethereal realm not often trodden in film.

On a broader level, Astral becomes a study of the afterlife, exploring death's existential questions: What happens to the soul after death? Can our mortal lives be intertwined with the spiritual world? Do the living and the deceased share any possible communication channels? The film leaves these questions hanging, prompting philosophical and spiritual introspection in its audience.

In summary, Astral is a richly textured film that takes the audience on a tumultuous journey of one man's quest for closure and healing, fraught with the perilous exploration of the unknown. It presents a gripping tale of extraordinary phenomena experienced by ordinary people, challenging scientific boundaries while exploring intense human emotion. Packed with suspense, the film keeps audiences on edge from the outset, running the full spectrum from quiet sadness to sheer horror. All in all, Astral is an immersive experience that offers a unique blend of academic curiosity, deep pathos, thrill, and chilling horror.