‘Someone’s watching over you.’
Amber’s Descent is a 2020 Canadian horror film about a renowned pianist who relocates to a rural farmhouse after a violent encounter. When the music mysteriously begins writing itself, Amber begins to discover that this piece could be her last.
Directed by Micheal Bafaro (Wrecker; Embedded; Rise of the Damned; The Devil’s Ground; 11:11) from a screenplay co-written with Michael Mitton, the movie stars Kayla Stanton, Michael Mitton, Don Knodel and Nathaniel Vossen.
Reviews: [may contain spoilers]
” …the film’s strength is with Stanton. As a slow burn, much of the film is her reactions to things, whether awake, dreaming, or dealing with unexplained events […] Where the film winds up is not as interesting as its journey to get there, but the haunting sadness of the story lingers behind, making it an overall effective film.” Cinema76
“The filmmakers’ ambitions for originality in its conclusion may have been a little bigger than the film could handle. Had they made a more conventional film […] this would be a solid thriller. As it is, viewers will enjoy the ride but may be let down by its end.” Killer Horror Critic
“The overall filmmaking competence is good […] It is just that Amber’s Descent is not quite interesting enough to hold the attention. With a bit more work, a few more memorable scenes, this might well have been a little gem of a film. Sadly, it is just a little too thin to recommend.” Nerdly
“Sections of the film featuring eerie musical intrusions work well and are genuinely unsettling at times, but the more traditional and predictable “fake-out” scares threaten to derail that tension as they never feel like they sit comfortably in the wider, more sombre tale of trauma and recovery.” Scared Sheepless
Trailer:
Kayla Stanton interview:
Free to watch on YouTube:
Release:
Amber’s Descent premiered at the 2020 Salem Horror Film Fest.
Cast and characters:
Kayla Stanton … Amber; Michael Mitton … Jim; Don Knodel … Father Lawrence; Nathaniel Vossen … Mark; Dione Russell … Cynthia; Colm Hill … Doctor Pearl; Destiny Millns … Young Woman; Kirsten Khorsand … Nurse; Sheron Russell … Miss Murphy; Jayden Shannon … Little Girl; Craig Paynton … Police Officer; Graham Daley … Paramedic; Sarah Seibert … Paramedic; Izzy … Miko the Cat
Technical specs:
1 hour 32 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.35: 1
