‘Embrace the darkness’
The Activated Man is a 2023 horror film about a man who suffers from strange visions due to the trauma of his dog’s demise.
Written, directed and co-produced by Nicholas Gyeney (The Falling; The Penitent Man; Matt’s Chance; Beta Test; Ultra Low). Also produced by Kelsey Aho, Cesar Beitia, Jared Safier, Edward Michael Scott and Thomas Walton.
The Genie-Mirror Images Ltd-Safier Entertainment co-production stars Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Sean Young, Andrew Keegan, Vladimir Kulich, Sab Shimono, Jamie Costa, Ivana Rojas, Sonia Jackson, Edward Michael Scott and Wary Nichen.
Plot:
As Ors Gabriel (Jamie Costa) struggles with the grief from losing his best friend and beloved dog to cancer, the trauma brings on strange visions only he can see. Whilst he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it’s real – a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known as “The Fedora Man”.
Through torments and terror, Ors must face his fears and confront The Fedora Man as he uncovers dark secrets from his past, while finally embracing who he is, and what he is meant to do…
Reviews:
“It’s heartfelt and emotional. It’s weird as hell and it advocates for things that are hard to accept and believe in, but the movie is directed with an energy and a vigor that is truly infectious. The movie also has one of the coolest looking (and scariest) potential new horror icons in the Fedora Man.” 8/10, 411 Mania
“I will say if you’re coping with the death of a beloved pet, The Activated Man is actually a comforting watch and has some lovely thoughts on what happens to our furry friends after they leave us. You just have to deal with a poorly-paced plot about some higher-concept ideas to get to them.” ★★★ Flix Chatter
“Some viewers will find the alternate philosophy behind the story somewhat of a stretch, but there’s no questioning the heart at the center of this film. Costa embodies his grieving, confused character in a dynamic lead performance, with admirable turns from the supporting cast members. Gyeney displays a unique vision with The Activated Man, crafting one of the more unusual fear-fare features in recent memory. ” Horror Fuel
“The narrative captivates with a strong opening, featuring an incomprehensible fever dream sequence that immerses the viewer in Ors’ mental turmoil. There’s a magical realism that adds an unexpected but delightful layer to the story with compelling depictions of spiritual energy. Though the scoring sometimes drowns out the dialogue, the creativity with visual effects really made this movie shine for me.” Movie Jawn
” …at the beginning the film takes a bit to kick into gear, but once it starts to move it turns into a rather exquisite supernatural mystery with many an interesting and surprising twist and turn, a cool build-up of suspense throughout, all carried by a directorial effort heavy on atmosphere and fittingly subtle in tone.” Search My Trash
Trailer:
Release:
The Activated Man premiered at the 2023 Dances with Films New York City Festival in December 2023. Stonecutter Media will release the movie in North America on cable (Xfinity/Spectrum/Cox Cable/Dish Network/Sling TV/DirecTV/Uverse/Verizon Fios/Optimum) and digital (Amazon Prime/Vudu/iTunes/Google Play/Microsoft) on December 13, 2024.
Main cast and characters:
Tony Todd … Jeffrey Bowman
Kane Hodder … Laszlo Gabriel
Sean Young … Agnes Gabriel
Andrew Keegan … Kit Waller
Vladimir Kulich … Wendigo
Sab Shimono … Mr Hideyoshi
Jamie Costa … Ors Gabriel
Ivana Rojas … Sarah Reeve
Sonia Jackson … The Nurse
Edward Michael Scott … The Fedora Man
Wary Nichen … Maxie Million
Bryce Adam Brown … The Boy
Takayo Fischer … Mrs Hideyoshi
Mike Rad … The Decrepit Man
Perry Smith … The Pale Old Woman
Scott Fulmer … The Dead Soldier
Xavier Roe … The Orderly
Jack Eyman … Young Ors
John Douglas Williams … CIA Agent Spetz
Jared Safier … The Grocery Store Clerk
Country of origin:
United States
Technical specs:
1 hour 55 minutes (!)
Dolby Surround 5.1
Aspect ratio: 2.39: 1
