The Rake

The Rake is a 2018 horror-mystery movie directed by Tony Wash, starring a talented cast including Rachel Melvin, Shenae Grimes-Beech, and Joey Bicicchi. A modern take on a creature-feature, it is a chilling tale that draws inspiration from the urban legend of a terrifying entity known as 'The Rake.' The movie explores a haunting narration that propels the understanding of realities, psychological fear and the human psyche's fervour to unravel what lies beyond the boundaries of known and unknown.

Actress Rachel Melvin, known for her roles in well-received movies like Zombeavers and Dumb and Dumber To, takes the lead role of Ashley, projecting a stunning performance. Ashley and her brother Ben (played by Joey Bicicchi), are orphaned at a young age due to a horrifying tragedy that led to the homicide of their parents. This gruesome event impinges on the siblings, haunting them psychologically, creating an ambience of terror and uncertainty that seeps throughout the storyline.

Shenae Grimes-Beech, famous for her work in teen dramas like 90210 and Degrassi: The Next Generation, steps into the role of Nicole, Ashley's close confidante, providing an emotional pillar of support. Her character adds an important angle to the storyline, deepening the emotional layers within the movie.

As the siblings grow and step into adulthood, they are stricken with the unresolved past that casts a gloomy shadow over their lives. Haunted by recurring nightmares and the unknown cause behind their parents' deaths, the siblings embark on a journey to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper, they find themselves entangled in a cryptic and sinister world that justifies their parents' fears: the revelation of 'The Rake.'

The movie weaves a narrative that intelligently combines psychological horror with the obsession of humans towards the supernatural. Tony Wash, who has worked on spine-chilling horror flicks like It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To, brings his expertise at creating suspense with his engaging storytelling technique.

As the plot unfolds, it carefully layers a complex interplay of human fear, trauma, survival instincts and the pursuit for answers. The strange relation between human psychology and fear gets underscored beautifully here, with the plot engaging the audience into a guessing game at every turn of the storyline.

The Rake pays homage to classic horror tropes, including nightmarish creatures, unsettling imagery, and a murky atmosphere that plays with the viewer's expectations. It works as a psychological thriller that moulds the audience's imagination, creating an eerie blend of reality and illusion that sits at the core of its horror mystery.

The film additionally extends its horror boundaries by the inclusion of grotesque and disturbing imagery, intended to churn the viewer's stomach. The special effects team manages to encapsulate the ambivalence of fear and curiosity by moulding 'The Rake' as a cryptic, nightmarish creature ready to send shivers down the audience's spine.

Edits in the movie provide the narrative with a further sense of anxiety and fear. These cuts often occur during vital exchanges or at sensational moments, offering the audience an unsettling, suspenseful viewing experience. Sound design is exemplary in creating the movie's overall sorrowful and chilling atmosphere, including delicately placed silences and sudden, deafening sounds that jolt the audience from their seats.

With solid performances from the entire cast and cleverly executed plot developments, The Rake delves into the themes of childhood trauma, the horror of the unknown, and coping up mechanisms. It opens up a psychological avenue that invites the audience to question what seems real and what appears to be an illusion, while also exploring how our minds work while processing fear.

The Rake is a movie for true horror genre enthusiasts, blending elements of psychological terror, mystery and grim creatures that lurk in the shadows of our fears. It feeds to the thrill of fear, making it a chilling experience worth watching.