It
turns out Dr. Spock and most horror movies agree on at least one thing. It is
definitely a bad thing when kids over 4-years still play with imaginary
friends. However, horror movies are more vehement on the subject. That is
especially true of the “imaginary” monster plaguing the Parsons family in
Brandon Christensen’s Z (not to be confused with Costa-Gavras’s film),
which premieres today on Shudder (in time for Mother’s Day).
Joshua
Parsons used to be a good kid, until he started playing with an ominously controlling
imaginary friend, who prefers to go by just plain “Z.” Since then, young
Parsons has become disruptive in school and violent with his classmates. His
parents even take him to a noted child psychologist, but Dr. Seager is not very
Spockian. He assures them their son is fine, but it gives him a moment of pause
when he hears the name “Z.”
Z
is
built around a familiar concept, but the execution is strong. There are some
very creepy elements, as well as moments that will truly horrify any parent. Having
previously helmed Still/Born, Christensen really seems to have it in for
parenthood, but this is a much more effective film.
Z
himself is nicely designed and seen on-screen just enough to maximize the dramatic
impact and sufficiently withheld to build a sense of mystery. Of course,
Christensen also has a genre ace-in-the-hole with Stephen McHattie, who plays a
good doctor this time around, as Dr. Seager.
Young
Jett Clyne convincingly handles the Bad Seed business as Joshua, while Keegan
Conor Tracy falls apart spectacularly, as his mother Elizabeth. The subplot
involving her sister with substance abuses issues is somewhat messy and left
under-developed, but Sara Canning is still quite good in the part.
