‘Embrace your inner demons’
Appendage is a 2023 American horror film directed and co-produced by Anna Zlokovic – making her film directorial debut- based on her 2021 short of the same name (watch below). Also produced by Emma Buerklin, Alex Familian and Hadley Robinson. Executive produced by David Brooks, Jenna Cavelle and Arbi Pedrossian.
The 20th Digital Studio production stars Hadley Robinson, Emily Hampshire, Deborah Rennard, Kausar Mohammed, Brandon Mychal Smith, Pat Dortch, Annie Pisapia, Carrie Stauber, Adam Butterfield, Daniel Chioco, Craig Kolkebeck and Ashley Rose Folino.
Plot:
Hannah (Hadley Robinson), a young fashion designer, seems fine on the surface, but secretly struggles with debilitating self-doubt. Soon these buried feelings begin to make Hannah physically sick and sprout into a ferocious growth on her body: The Appendage.
As Hannah’s health declines, The Appendage begins to fuel her anxieties – her perceived lack of talent at work, her deteriorating relationships with her boyfriend and best friend, and her parents’ lack of love and understanding. At her breaking point, Hannah makes a shocking discovery—there are others out there like her…
Reviews:
“Defty paced and with a surprises up its sleeve, Appendage is fresh enough to feel like an evolution of the body horror ideas planted all those moons ago by the Cronenbergs et al. Setting the film within the fashion world also feels like a smart move, given the vanity and cut throat nature of that industry. If you want your horror slimy and bloody, Appendage may just be the film for you.” Bloody Flicks
“With a runtime of 94 minutes, Appendage is successful enough with its mirth and escapism. Appendage wants to be essential and is demanding in its presence. For as much heart as this film has, though, when compared to others in the genre, Appendage equates to nothing more than a spleen.” Cinefied
“There was a moment where I did believe that Appendage had pretty much lost me. Not that I was overly repulsed or put off by the film’s tone, but rather I found it going into a severe lull during its second act that I struggled with staying engaged with. Luckily, the film’s momentum picks up wonderfully in the third act, giving the story new life with a fun little twist…” 3 out of 5, Elements of Madness
“Robinson is super in her portrayal of a troubled young woman looking to improve her lot in life but hounded by decisions she made in the past, and Mohammed displays fine chemistry with her. Zlokovic has crafted an always entertaining, often dizzying chiller that speaks to the insecurities that we all feel at times.” Horror Fuel
“Appendage is a unique vision, a horror comedy with a memorably mouthy monster and a nuanced treatment of addiction. Despite all the laughs, Zlokovic’s feature is more than a bit of body horror. This film is a bold expansion of the short with something to say. If you think your inner critic is bad, just wait until you meet this little fiend.”7 out of 10, Horror Buzz
” It’s weird, unhinged, and memorable. Sometimes for the reasons it clearly strives for, sometimes for completely ironically reasons, and sometimes for reasons that fall into a murky gray area. Believe it or not, I think horror fans should at least try it out. They may love it, hate it, or fall in between, but they’ll have something to talk about no matter what.” 3 out of 5, Loud and Clear
“The movie’s self-invented lore of “Appendages” gets a little confusing the more it unspools. But perhaps the biggest issue with Appendage as a horror movie is its lack of peril. Aside from Hannah we never get the sense that anyone is any real danger here, and there are none of the set-pieces you expect from the genre, not a single onscreen death.” 2.5 out of 5, The Movie Waffler
“Mutations as metaphor for mental health may not be something new if you also voraciously devour every new body horror but the humor and heart of Appendage is what sets it apart from every other overwrought, drawn-out entry in the subgenre. The practical creature effects are on point, it doesn’t waste it’s time the pacing department, and it’s got a stacked cast of fun side characters.” 81% Nightmare on Film Street
“Part Bilal from Basket Case part screaming mandrake from Harry Potter, the appendage effects are pretty great and the film does a nice job exploring the pressures brought on by our inner critic. It is a well-realized effort for a first film and Zlokovic is one to watch in the horror genre.” 3 out of 5, The Scariest Things
“There’s a smart and clever premise at the core of Appendage, writer-director Anna Zlokovic‘s psychological body horror film (based on her 2021 short of the same name), but it feels like she stretches a mere outline of a story into a feature length project. As a result, the film loses a great deal of momentum quickly, but the thematic elements and old school horror puppetry make this one inventive and memorable.” Screen Zealots
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