I recently had filmmaker Torin Langen contact me and ask if I would be willing to review his newest short horror film, Malleus Maleficarum. I agreed to have a look at the film and give my honest opinion of it as a work of horror fiction and filmmaking.
The title Malleus Maleficarum is something interesting in and of itself. The Malleus Maleficarum is a treatise or book that was written on the prosecution and execution of witches in 1486. It is a disturbing document and works as a great title for this tale of medieval-esque horror that is brought into our modern day.
This short film is a fittingly dark film for this time of year. The setting of the film is in a modern rural community during the later weeks of autumn. The locale looks strikingly beautiful and has almost a--dare I say--cozy mystery feel to it.
I often see horror novels or films that have these qualities-- small community, rural home town feel, ideal seasonal elements--and I like to call them "cozy horror" stories. Others would probably associate this with quiet horror.
According to Bad Moon Books "Quiet horror is a label used by some people to describe a literary style for horror fiction that is often contrasted with the splatterpunk (extreme) style as its opposite."
It is my opinion that Malleus Maleficarum fits this ticket in the best of ways.
The title Malleus Maleficarum is something interesting in and of itself. The Malleus Maleficarum is a treatise or book that was written on the prosecution and execution of witches in 1486. It is a disturbing document and works as a great title for this tale of medieval-esque horror that is brought into our modern day.
This short film is a fittingly dark film for this time of year. The setting of the film is in a modern rural community during the later weeks of autumn. The locale looks strikingly beautiful and has almost a--dare I say--cozy mystery feel to it.
I often see horror novels or films that have these qualities-- small community, rural home town feel, ideal seasonal elements--and I like to call them "cozy horror" stories. Others would probably associate this with quiet horror.
According to Bad Moon Books "Quiet horror is a label used by some people to describe a literary style for horror fiction that is often contrasted with the splatterpunk (extreme) style as its opposite."
It is my opinion that Malleus Maleficarum fits this ticket in the best of ways.
The simple story that Langen has created here manages to be a mystery for a large part of the film. The film opens with a young woman walking out among the beautiful autumn trees carrying a shovel and a large wooden pole. She soon arrives at the yard of a quaint farmhouse and begins to dig.
We soon see the rest of the "family"--a brother and sister--getting ready for the day as if it is any normal day. The brother, however, seems anxious about something.
The family drive out to the local convince store and the owner takes them into the back room. It is right here where the horror begins to become apparent. These people are hunting presumed witches, locking them up, and then most likely killing them.
It is a harrowing concept to consider. A modern day witch hunt would be frightening and disturbing. This movie manages to explore those elements in realistic and beautiful ways.
What adds to this fear is the knowledge that similar events--although maybe not related to witches--are happening around the world in the name of religion and righteousness.
This alone is a commentary on our humanity and the horrors of the our inner demons.
We soon see the rest of the "family"--a brother and sister--getting ready for the day as if it is any normal day. The brother, however, seems anxious about something.
The family drive out to the local convince store and the owner takes them into the back room. It is right here where the horror begins to become apparent. These people are hunting presumed witches, locking them up, and then most likely killing them.
It is a harrowing concept to consider. A modern day witch hunt would be frightening and disturbing. This movie manages to explore those elements in realistic and beautiful ways.
What adds to this fear is the knowledge that similar events--although maybe not related to witches--are happening around the world in the name of religion and righteousness.
This alone is a commentary on our humanity and the horrors of the our inner demons.
To tell any more of the story would be to do the film an injustice for those who have yet to watch it.
The entire film is done without any dialogue and is all the more powerful for it. Langen, much like other art house directors, rely on imagery instead of words to tell the story. I thank him for that and would say that more directors and filmmakers should adopt the "show don't tell" ideology.
There are many shots in Malleus Maleficarum that could be frozen and then saved as a piece of artistic photography. That is just the nature of the film. It is a nice call back to directors like Hitchcock, who thought every shot mattered.
But Langen also adds a more modern and gritty element to much of the film with extreme close ups that create anxiety in the viewer. It also helps the scene focus on specific ideas and symbols that are a reflection of the film's overall themes. But, at times I wonder if these types of shots were used too often.
Additionally, in the wide shots there is often an object--part of a hat, someone's shoulder, etc.--in the foreground that blurs part of the screen. I personally didn't like this type of shot but also understand why they may have been used.
The entire film is done without any dialogue and is all the more powerful for it. Langen, much like other art house directors, rely on imagery instead of words to tell the story. I thank him for that and would say that more directors and filmmakers should adopt the "show don't tell" ideology.
There are many shots in Malleus Maleficarum that could be frozen and then saved as a piece of artistic photography. That is just the nature of the film. It is a nice call back to directors like Hitchcock, who thought every shot mattered.
But Langen also adds a more modern and gritty element to much of the film with extreme close ups that create anxiety in the viewer. It also helps the scene focus on specific ideas and symbols that are a reflection of the film's overall themes. But, at times I wonder if these types of shots were used too often.
Additionally, in the wide shots there is often an object--part of a hat, someone's shoulder, etc.--in the foreground that blurs part of the screen. I personally didn't like this type of shot but also understand why they may have been used.
Summing it Up
Malleus Maleficarum is a beautiful and seasonal movie. The autumnal scenery and the theme of witches gives the film a very distinct and classical Halloween feel. The cinematography has many creative and shots but isn't perfect. The lack of dialogue makes the dark themes of the story all the more striking. It is a well done short film that gives off the perfect aura of quiet horror.
Unfortunately the film isn't available to the public yet. Let's hope that sometime that it does so that more people can enjoy its art house style. I would be happy if more large budget horror films did some of the things that are presented so well in Malleus Maleficarum.
Deaths: 2
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 2
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 3
Fun Factor: 3
Overall Rating: 4.5
Unfortunately the film isn't available to the public yet. Let's hope that sometime that it does so that more people can enjoy its art house style. I would be happy if more large budget horror films did some of the things that are presented so well in Malleus Maleficarum.
Deaths: 2
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 2
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 3
Fun Factor: 3
Overall Rating: 4.5
To learn more about my rating system click here.