The Rizen

In the 2017 British science-fiction horror film The Rizen, directed by first-time director Matt Mitchell, Laura Swift leads the cast along with Patrick Knowles and Christopher Tajah. This movie offers a fusion of cold war tension, gritty science fiction, and classic horror that aligns with a tribute to the '80s cult classics.

The story unfolds in the aftermath of World War II, during the growing tension of the Cold War. This backdrop offers an interesting milieu that reflects the paranoid climate of the period while cleverly infusing a horrifying ‘what if’ fantasy scenario. The narrative follows an amnesiac woman, Frances (Laura Swift), who surfaces from a hidden underground British government bunker, to find herself in a devastated world where she’s treated like a dangerous alien. Throughout the narrative, she is plagued by nightmarish visions, voices, and experiences which guide her through the gutted remains of a hopeless, desperately broken world destroyed by something otherworldly.

Frances is quickly joined by an intrepid yet skeptical scientist Bailey (Patrick Knowles) and a determined military figure, Briggs (Christopher Tajah), as they navigate through the intricate network of underground tunnels, trying to uncover the fabric of their amnesiac past while surviving the labyrinth littered with mysterious and murderous humanoid creatures. The trio forms an uneasy and tense alliance, frequently finding themselves at odds with each other while being haunted by their past lives and the uncanny secrets of the bunker.

The dingy, shadow-laden corridors of the bunker, and the eerie mysterious world outside serve as an effective backdrop throughout the movie, creating an environment that is menacing, haunting, and claustrophobic, amplifying the intensity of their journey and experiences. The rough, gritty cinematography extends the disorienting and eerie essence of the bunker and its creatures.

The story intertwines the characters’ journey with period recordings and flashbacks from the 1950s, snippets revealing experimental super soldier projects stirred by the fear and paranoia of the Cold War. The narrative presents an interesting yet terrifying fusion of science fact and fiction, reimagining a darker reality of the cold war's outgoing shocks, leaving an intriguing touch on the lore of the era.

The protagonists, while struggling with their deteriorating situation, grapple with their returning memories, the tell-tales of their complex past, and the intense psychological turmoil, gradually revealing a deeply woven multilayered plot. Their well-portrayed, understated reactions to the horrors they encounter assert their denial of their world's new, monstrous reality.

Laura Swift commendably plays her character with a raw, vulnerable intensity that pulls you into her grip as she confronts the Hellish landscape and battles her internal demons. Patrick Knowles and Christopher Tajah, too, provide solid performances and are integral to the plot, with their characters providing the much-needed skepticism and dogged determination, respectively.

The Rizen effectively contrasts the order and method of traditional establishments (science and the military) against chaos and the unspeakable horrors of the creature infested world, presenting a chilling commentary on the potential consequences of humanity’s insatiable thirst for power and control. The monsters of the film are symbolic of humanity's irresponsible dabbling with forces beyond their understanding, a premise familiar to fans of the genre.

The narrative progresses gradually, allowing suspense to build slowly but appreciably, forcing the characters and the audience to question what they know or think they know. The chilling climax leaves the door open for speculation and interpretation.

Overall, The Rizen is a thrilling exploration in fear, paranoia and the repercussions of human arrogance. Akin to a love letter to the pixelated horrors of the classic '80s horror films, this film does well in blending together different genres to offer something that feels both original and eerily relatable. The Rizen is a must-watch movie for fans of classic horror science fiction who can appreciate vintage narrative tricks intermingled with a modern touch. The vivid performances of the main characters add notable weight to the film, making it an engaging watch. Watch it at least once for its unique take on the paranoia of the Cold War instilled with a monster-filled nightmare.