Piper is a 2022 fantasy horror film about a teacher and her daughter who discovers the legend of the Pied Piper is horrifyingly real. Also known as The Piper.
Written and directed by Anthony Waller based on a story by Duncan Kennedy based on the Medieval German folk legend of The Pied Piper.
The Ratcatcher Entertainment-Cometstone Pictures co-production stars Elizabeth Hurley, Mia Jenkins, Jack Stewart, Robert Daws, Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone, Gundars Abolins, Arben Bajraktaraj, Jurijs Djakonovs, Freddy Kattumath James, Evija Koltone, Elizabete Liepa, Alma Rix, Dominik Gabriel Roseti, Madlena Valdberga and Anthony Waller.
Plot:
Liz (Liz Hurley) and her daughter Amy (Mia Jenkins) have relocated to Hamelin, a small town in Germany, but as they settle into their new life things start to take a dark turn… a local girl dies in horrifying circumstances and there are sinister events abound.
A dark secret from Liz’s past has awoken the Piper, an evil entity from beyond who seeks redemption by taking the children of any parent who has done wrong… and Mia is in grave danger.
When Amy meets the kind and mysterious, Luca (Jack Stewart), could he be the key to saving her from the Piper’s clutches?
Reviews [click links to read full reviews]:
“Piper works when it fully embraces a Hammer-esque landscape of medieval houses, colourful costumes, lush forests and dark folklore, allowing the dark legend of the Piper to speak for itself. And while Waller’s film may struggle to maintain this strength as it rushes toward its conclusion, there is a lot to love, from the performances of Hurley and Jenkins to the rat-infested houses that announce the Pied Piper’s deadly return.” ★★★ Cinerama Film
“Piper comes across as a film consisting of three different ideas, directions, and styles that were smashed together regardless of their cohesion. This makes it a daunting prospect for hardened horror veterans, though those who prefer horror lite might find a beacon of hope buried within. With the story of the Pied Piper and Hamlin being a bountiful source for a horror story, Piper is a disappointing attempt at bringing him and his malice to the big screen.” ★★★★ The Hollywood News
“Shot in Riga, Latvia, The Piper has nice misty locations and keeps coming up with interesting, unusual images – the piper also has an appropriate earworm theme (the score is credited to Waller and Wilbert Hirsch) – but its storyline is ramshackle, with long-telegraphed surprises and a great many sequences in which people get in trouble mostly by being stupid.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Piper is loud, frenetic, and lacking in sense, for example after a Goth girl plummets to her death both Liz and her daughter natter away as if nothing more interesting than their morning’s post has arrived, really? It’s relentless, daft and bordering on hysterical, what Piper never is, is good, which is a shame as there was such an interesting premise at its core.” 1 out of 10, My Bloody Reviews
” …if one were to nitpick, a deeper exploration of Liz’s backstory might have added another layer of intrigue. It would be enticing to see more local German lore intertwined, elevating the narrative’s richness. Piper is more than just another flick on the big screen. It’s a thrilling blend of mystery, dread, and drama, brought to vivid life by a top-tier cast.” ★★★½ Overly Honest Movie Reviews
Release:
Piper had its world premiere at the 2023 FrightFest in London on August 27, 2023.
Trailer:
Technical specs:
1 hour 45 minutes
Related:
THE PIPER (2023) Yet another take on the Pied Piper tale… with trailer
