‘Burn your idols’
True Fiction is a 2019 Canadian film written and directed by Braden Croft (Feed the Gods; Hemorrhage). The 775 Media Corp-Venntertainment production stars Sara Garcia, John Cassini, Julian Black Antelope and Julian Richings.
Plot:
Avery Malone (Sara Garcia), a wannabe writer and lonely librarian, gets her big break when she’s hand-selected to assist her hero, reclusive author, Caleb Conrad (John Cassini).
Whisked away to Caleb’s remote estate, Avery is given her one and only task; to participate in a controlled psychological experiment in fear that will serve as the basis for Caleb’s next novel…
Reviews:
“Wild twists and turns come at regular intervals. Some are a little hard to swallow if you demand pure, unassailable logic. Get on the movie’s wavelength, though, and tracking the zig-zag plot can offer some mind-bending entertainment, especially when it’s made with this much style.” The Aisle Seat
“Croft crafts the film in a way where it’s constantly shifting in every regard. Its tone changes frequently. Its genre seems all over the place. Even the characters remain a mystery throughout the film. True Fiction stays compelling by delivering a new sort of twist every time you start to feel comfortable.” Cinema Slasher
“On the one hand, this is your classic horror film with blood and knives and an impending sense of dread. But what elevates it to the next level is its dipping into psychological thriller territory. Sara Garcia really pushes the limits of her character’s mental health…” The Framing Business
Watch HappyWax TV review on YouTube
“True Fiction is at least as bloody and violent towards the end as What Keeps You Alive was. Personally, I needed to know the main character better in order for the movie to resonate with me more. However, it’s one hell of a ride and the ending is wild!” Heaven of Horror
“For horror fans, there is something for everyone […] There are a lot of bloody kills that paint this beautiful home, and the characters, with several nice coats. The film rides a wave of psychological horror throughout…” HNN
“Writer-director Braden Croft spins variations on several well-known stories about writers and game-playing (Sleuth and Death Trap as well as Misery) […] Familiar supporting player Cassini (also in Volition) gets a rare lead as Conrad, and wisely underplays the crazy – stringing out the possibility that he’s a genuine innocent even as he seems to take part in more and more upsetting actions – while Garcia is credibly harrowed as the heroine/patsy.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Powerful performances from Garcia and Cassini help bring the great writing to life. They are able to really convey a sense of true fear, dread and all out maniacal insanity. In the world of fictional horror writers, Caleb Conrad ranks right up there is Sutter Cane. And True Fiction ranks right up there as one of the best horror films of 2019 so far.” Morbidly Beautiful
“A terrifying gem that will also pull on the heartstrings of those who know what it’s like to want to be a writer, and of those who are writers. True Fiction gently touches on the anxieties that can hold back a writer who wants to put themselves out there, but can’t due to irrational fears that hold them back.” Nightmare on Film Street
“The story caught me by surprise right up until the very end. I love when a film can do that, and True Fiction doesn’t disappoint […] Nothing is over the top; the bloodiness serves its purpose in the most delightfully horrifying way.” Pop Horror
“True Fiction ultimately takes a turn or two too many, its rug-pulling becoming a little muddled in the final stretch, but in large part, it’s a refreshingly complex and ambitious, sometimes genuinely unnerving power game.” Rue Morgue
Release:
True Fiction has been shown at festivals such as Fantaspoa, FrightFest and Macabro and is awaiting a release date.
Cast and characters:
- Sara Garcia … Avery Malone – Damien TV series
- John Cassini … Caleb Conrad – Volition; Van Helsing TV series; The Possession; The Traveler; Halloween: H20; Man’s Best Friend; Se7en
- Julian Black Antelope … Peter Lavigne
- Julian Richings … Lenny Rupert
- Catherine Gell … Allison
- Jason Schneider … Colton / Driver / Third Man
- Reamonn Joshee … Henry
- Angelique Berry … Laura Malone
- Brian Martell … Ian
- Lauren Hanna … Secretary
- Jennifer Boudreau … Assistant
Filming locations:
J R Studio, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
