Val (2021)

With a premise that will be very familiar to most horror fans, Val is a low-budget comedy thriller that tries hard to make up for some obvious limitations with a healthy dose of wit. It doesn’t quite manage, but the spirited performance from Misha Reeves, in the title role, almost makes up for some of the weaknesses.

Zachary Mooren plays Finn, a young man hiding from the law after a criminal escapade leaves him with blood on his hands. He ends up in the home of Val, a woman who is about to have a client joining her for an evening of adult company and sexy time. Although he thinks he can control the situation and get his own way, Finn is soon incapable of keeping his grip on reality. His mind is spinning in a number of different directions at once, and Val really won’t help him. She also won’t help the two officers (played by Kyle Howard and Sufe Bradshaw) who are looking for Finn.

Directed by Aaron Fradkin, who also co-wrote the script with Victoria Fratz (who also appears onscreen in a small, fun, role), Val is an amusing idea that needs more packed into it. There aren’t enough memorable characters, there aren’t enough side-trips into more madness, and there just isn’t enough done to make the most of what they have in Misha Reeves.

The supporting cast do well, with Erik Griffin especially fun in the role of Freddy, Val’s main client for the evening, but they aren’t really given enough to do. The film-makers seem unsure of what tone they want, and unsure of how far to take things. Or maybe they were unable to film scenes exactly as they wanted to. These things are easy to forget about when Reeves is onscreen though. Clearly having an absolute blast, her portrayal of Val gives viewers a devious and witty entity that I think should be given at least one more movie outing. This film is okay. Reeves is unforgettable and brilliant.

Very few people will be surprised by the third act, with a point being made that has already been put out there in a wide variety of horror movies, but it isn’t badly handled. Again, nothing stands out, aside from Reeves.

A bit more work here and there, to improve everything from the score to the effects, from the staging of certain moments to the amount of amusing lines throughout the script, and this would have been one to highly recommend to everyone. Maybe Fradkin and Fratz can use this as a template, refining and developing their craft in a remake of their own doing. It wouldn’t be the first time it had happened, and I would be happy to see their progress.

6/10

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