‘It’s the end of their world’
Point of Death aka In Extremis is a 2017 British horror film written and directed by Steve Stone (Deus; Schism ; Entity).
The movie stars David O’Hara, Isabelle Allen, Neil Pearson and Toyah Willcox (Swiperight; Doll House; Heckle).
Plot:
Alex is a man with everything – the well-paid executive job, the impressive house in the country and the beautiful wife and child. When he inexplicably decides to leave work early one Friday nothing will ever be the same again. Within hours of his return, a cataclysmic storm threatens to destroy everything around them.
Isolated without power or phones this loving family descends into a nightmare of terror, violence and visions that threaten their very existence. In the confusion of past and present, Alex and his family have to face the real nature of the events – are they real or imagined? What if every parent’s nightmare is happening to them?
Reviews:
” …a brilliant lead performance, Stone’s unerring direction and some great visual effects make for a thoroughly satisfying movie.” British Horror Guide
“There’s no denying that Point of Death looks impressive and the passive, stately photography provides the stillness that the drama needs to unfold. It’s just a shame that there’s little content to get hold of, making this a rather arid viewing experience.” Dark Eyes of London
“The point isn’t the revelation at the end, but the eerie effects along the way … and Stone does work up a proper atmosphere of dread, following the psychologically acute strategy of melancholia in having one family’s personal end of the world spill over to the point (of death) when it seems to threaten everyone else. It’s squarely in the tradition of recent gloomy British genre fare…” The Kim Newman Web Site
“It is evident that director Steve Stone has his filmmaking roots firmly embedded in the horror genre, but every single aspect of that area feels completely toothless. There is no realistic threat to the protagonists from the Dark Man, and even the creepy looking hospital that appears later in the film doesn’t feel scary.” Movies on Weekends
“A great deal of time and care is taken in deliberately wrong-footing the viewer in interesting ways including some genuinely impressive and creepy set pieces. Overall, Point of Death is a well-crafted, creepy piece with a fair amount of emotional weight which is well worth your time and attention.” Scared Sheepless
Release:
The film premiered (under its shooting title) at the East End Film Festival in June 2016.
The film was released courtesy of The Movie Partnership on 11th February 2019.
Cast and characters:
David O’Hara … Alex – The Messenger; Cowboys & Aliens
Isabelle Allen … Anna
Neil Pearson … Doctor – Frankenstein (2007)
Toyah Willcox … Woman
Bill Fellows … Homeless Man – Kindred; Torment; Ripper (short)
Lisa Gormley … Claudia
Nick Cornwall … Surgical Heavy
Tina Harris … Female Paramedic
Stuart Sessions … Hospital Doctor
Luke Ryder … Surgical Heavy
Joe Simpson … Male Paramedic
Michael David Worden … Dark Figure
Jeannie McGinnis … Nurse
Nicola Taylor Young … Neil’s PA
Amy Popplewell … Suze
Production:
Shot in 2015.
