Honeydew

Honeydew is a gripping horror-thriller film that instantly immerses its audience into an atmospheric, isolated rural setting that's as eerie as it is entrancing. Released in 2020, this unsettling indie film is directed by the up-and-coming talent Devereux Milburn. It features captivating performances from Barbara Kingsley, Stephen D’Ambrose, and William Aydelott, along with lead actors Sawyer Spielberg and Malin Barr.

Set in the unsettling landscape of rural New England, the film's story revolves around a young couple, Sam (Sawyer Spielberg) and Rylie (Malin Barr). The pair are on a road trip which gets disrupted when their car suddenly breaks down, leaving them stranded in what appears to be out-of-the-way farmland. The film hinges on this premise as Sam and Rylie seek help, only to find themselves gradually enmeshed in a nightmarish spiral of peculiar and foreboding events.

Barbara Kingsley showcases her acting prowess as she plays the role of Karen, an odd, elderly lady who lives nearby. When Sam and Rylie knock on her door seeking help, she graciously invites them to spend the night at her place. It’s here the peculiarities start to unravel—family photographs that hint at strange deformities, rotten fruits that construe a disjointed reality, and monotonous meals that are anything but ordinary.

Stephen D'Ambrose delivers an equally poignant performance as Gunni, Karen's eccentric and eerily silent son. He’s shrouded in mystery and raises alarm bells for the couple, subtly feeding into the thickening cloud of dread surrounding their circumstance.

The narrative in Honeydew is layered with hypnotic, surreal, and macabre elements, imbuing the simple premise with a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Adding further to the tension and the sense of the eerie is the brilliant cinematography by Dan Kennedy. The film is visually arresting with its inclination towards low-lit scenes and unsettling close-ups, capturing the more unsettling aspects of rural life. The sound design also plays a critical role in the narrative, as it employs silence broken by sudden noises to keep the audience on edge.

Honeydew’s storyline is reminiscent of classic folk horror, enlivened with dizzying camerawork and an atmosphere of intense, growing foreboding. The plot slowly escalates to reveal a situation laden with grotesque surrealism. It harks back to the genre's classics while also veering into unexpectedly bizarre territory, adding a freshness to the mix. There’s an unshakable sense of something not quite right, an insidious dread that permeates every frame, every interaction, and every meal.

Moreover, another standout facet of Honeydew is the peculiar blend of horror and dark humor that underpins the narrative, propelling the film beyond conventional genre boundaries. The movie takes you on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and terror, but also manages to pull off an eerie sense of humor that results in occasionally comedic, yet profoundly uncanny moments.

Packed with plenty of unsettling moments, Honeydew is not for the faint of heart. It takes the audience on an unforgettable wild ride through rural hell, painting a haunting picture of madness and hunger. Fueled by excellent performances from its cast, carefully crafted visuals, and a nerve-racking score, the film delivers an experience that is as thrilling as it is terrifying.

Despite being a newcomer, director Milburn succeeds in presenting a gripping narrative that doesn’t shy away from taking bold strides, both in its plot and stylistic choices. The film possesses an art-house aesthetic fused with classic horror conventions, making it an exciting addition to the genre. It's a well-woven tale of nightmarish experiences that is bound to linger in the viewer's mind long after the ending credits roll.

All in all, Honeydew is a chilling cinematic experience—one that offers a unique spin on the horror genre, with its slow-burning narrative and an constant underlying sense of dread. For horror enthusiasts seeking a fresh narrative, Honeydew—with its deeply unsettling narrative and palpable suspense—is definitely worth a watch.