Are
two murders sufficient to classify the suspect a serial killer, or is a third
killing required? Unfortunately, while Detective-Inspectors Rebecca Faraway and
Eli Smith argue the point, it will be rendered moot by their quarry. She will
still have plenty to bicker over with her smug partner and the rest of the
chauvinistic task force. However, Faraway will have even greater concerns when
their chief suspect takes a sinister interest in her during the course of Andy
Collier & Toor Mian’s Charismata (trailer here), which screens
tonight as part of Cinepocalypse 2017 in Chicago.
These
are ritualistic killings with the emphasis on the “ick.” There are pools of blood,
satanic markings, and missing body parts. It is never the same body parts
removed, but it still safe to call it part of a consistent M.O. It turns out
there are other linkages. Two of the bodies were discovered in empty properties
awaiting gentrification that were guarded by the same bargain basement security
firm and owned by the same up-scale development firm.
Thanks
to good police work, Faraway tenuously links Michael Sweet, the firm’s hotshot,
youngest-ever partner to the third victim, but he is cool as ice when they
bring him in for questioning. In fact, he is clearly much more interested in
her than his status as a potential suspect. Soon thereafter, she starts having
dreams and hallucinations, featuring Sweet in the starring role. She already
has a history of personal problems and instability, so her increased freaky
behavior just further alienates her from her colleagues. Of course, that makes
her obsess over Sweet even more.
Charismata is a nimble and
atmospheric fusion of police procedurals and demonic horror, sort of like Prime Suspect crossed with the better Exorcist sequels. Frankly, the cop stuff
works surprisingly well. As Faraway and Smith, Sarah Beck Mather and Andonis
Anthony really do not seem to like each other at all, so “chemistry” is not
really the right term, but they are terrific playing off each other. David J.
Peel and Ethan Chapples add some blunt-spoken comic relief as their knuckleheaded
DS and DC, without getting shticky or slapsticky, while Jamie Satterthwaite shamelessly
preens and chews the scenery, as befits a cocky as Hell horror movie villain.
Charismata starts modestly,
but it raises the tension and the stakes steadily and at an impressively speedy
clip. Yet, despite some mostly presentable special effects, this is really a
character-driven horror movie. Collier and Mian masterfully control the mood
and get some great work out of their ensemble. They also receive a key assist
from cinematographer Fernando Ruiz, who makes it all look mysterious and
foreboding. Highly recommended for genre fans, Charismata screens tonight (11/4), as part of this year’s
Cinepocalypse.
