‘Face your demons’
Charismata is a 2017 British psychological horror thriller film written, produced and directed by Andy Collier and Toor Mian (Sacrifice). The Hydra Films RKM-Loose Canon Films stars Sarah Beck Mather, Jamie Satterthwaite and Andonis Anthony.
Plot:
Newbie detective Rebecca Faraway is struggling to find acceptance in a police department defined by a culture of bullying and intolerance; things go from bad to worse when the chief suspect in a series of brutal ritualistic murders takes a personal interest in her.
A game of cat and mouse ensues causing Rebecca’s grasp on reality to spiral out of control, leading to a terrifying climax where she needs to fight for her sanity, her life and maybe even her soul…
The producers have described the film as a “tense, fast-moving police thriller reminiscent of Fincher’s Se7en with a nightmarish, paranoia-infused psychological horror story which tips its hat to Polanski’s classic Apartment Trilogy: Repulsion, Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant.”
Reviews:
” …a tried and tested narrative feels far more dramatic than in rollercoaster horrors like Drag Me To Hell, with the emphasis firmly on the character vs the possession. It all looks amazing too, with lots of twisted angles and tasteful trickery underlying our protagonist’s increasingly fragile mental state.” Horror Cult Films
“Strong performances, creepy atmosphere and some truly awesome sequences – are unfortunately paired up with an impaired ending. Despite this shortcoming, I can still recommend Charismata.” Horrorfreak News
“It does have a constant horror element throughout be it graphic shots of mutilated, decomposing bodies and blood to hallucinations and Satanism it tried very hard and I would say does pull it off quite nicely. It is well shot and the acting is proficient but it is not a standout movie due to its script issues.” Horrorscreams Videovault
“The plotline kept me hooked throughout, and the ritualistic crime scenes were a bonus. With scatterings of dark humour and frequent bouts of distorted reality depicting the poor state of Faraway’s mental health, it truly is difficult to find fault with Charismata. I won’t give away any spoilers but I also don’t think it could have had a better ending!” The London Horror Society
” …there’s a Roger Corman-style 85-minute version trying to punch its way through some rather static police station scenes and witness interviews. But Beck Mather is superb and the co-directors’ deep affection for the genre results in a potent cocktail of horror and black comedy that cuts a bloody dash.” Starburst magazine
“What begins as a textbook crime-scene investigation story finds stronger footing in the psychological when the second half flirts with disturbing imagery and unnerving audio.” That Moment In
“With her world crumbling, Faraway’s name is never more appropriate. As the story whirls to its conclusion, it’s never clear how far it will push itself and there were some genuine surprises making it a satisfying journey. It leaves a number of questions behind, but that may be part of Collier and Mian’s master plan.” UK Horror Scene
Cast and characters:
Sarah Beck Mather … Rebecca Faraway
Jamie Satterthwaite … Michael Sweet
Andonis Anthony … Eli Smith
Johnny Vivash … Tony Dewire
Ross Mullan … Doug
David J. Peel … D.S. Perkins
Ethan Chapples … D.C. Lawrence
Nicole O’Neill … Vera Mason
Anthony Taylor … D.I. Clarke
Sean Knopp … D.C. Rice
Ryan Spong … Tom Oliver
Paul T. Horsfield … Hollis
Louis Hilyer … Commissioner Faraway
Mark Knightley … Charles Crayne
Dean Roberts … Neil Nelson
Thomas Williamson … Security guard – Simon
Jane Adetona … Incident cop #4
Dilyana Bouklieva … Incident cop #5
Arabella Burfitt-Dons … Amanda
Andy Collier … The Mayor
Clive Dancey … Mr Wilkinson
Gabriel Fleary … Femi
Alistair Green … Steve
Abigail Hamilton … Tramp
Lee Nicholas Harris … Incident cop #1
Chris Martin Hill … Incident cop #2
Jessica Jay … Steph
Tom Lincoln … Barman
Jessica Preddy … Claire
Dylan Rees … P.C. Ironshield
Simon Rhodes … Sergeant
Craig Summers … Incident cop #6
Rose Wardle … Estate Agent
James Watters … Alex
Jo Wheatley … Incident cop #3
Louise Young … Mitchell
Fabio Cicala … Corpse (uncredited)
Filming locations:
London, England
Technical details:
96 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.35: 1
Audio: Dolby Digital
