Another horror movie presented in something close to the "found footage" style, and another horror movie joining the growing field of films about people trying to make it as an influencer, it's easy to see why many might take a dislike to Mind Body Spirit, a film that shows what can happen when your yoga goes so wrong that you end up more of a chakra can't than a chakra can. I ended up really liking it though, although there are some issues with the presentation.
Sarah J. Bartholomew plays Anya, a young woman who wants to succeed as an online yoga instructor/influencer. She doesn't seem to have any grand plan though, apart from asking for some collaborations with the savvy Kenzi (Madi Bready). Things change when Anya finds some interesting rituals that were written down by her estranged grandmother, leading her to embrace what she views as part of her Russian heritage and try out some peculiar practices that she thinks should win over people looking for something a bit different from the usual downward dogs and warrior poses.
Co-directed and co-written by Alex Henes and Matthew Merenda, with a story credit for Topher Hendriks, this is a feature debut made by people who know how to work well within certain limitations. It's all mostly set in one space, which is a good way to save on the budgets, and has a very small cast. They throw in a couple of fun clips to break up the potential monotony though, reinforcing the competitive and profitable world that our leading lady is trying to break into.
Despite moments that feel like minor mis-steps, this generally gets things right when it comes to the general aesthetic and vibe that you'd expect from this world. Characters are, for the most part, careful to remain pleasant and positive at all times, using the right words and trying to give off the right air of confidence and authority that will allow them to "fake it until they make it". Anya may make the mistake of showing a bit too much of her learning process, but that feels in line with someone who isn't really cut out for the fakery and almost inhuman self-control that people often seem to convey when they achieve a state of internet celebrity/guruship.
The whole film depends on the performance from Bartholomew, and she is more than up to the task of carrying everything on her shoulders. Emotionally and physically, Bartholomew convinces at depicting every step of her journey, whether she's being insecure and stumbling or more assertive and determined due to growing (misplaced?) confidence. It's yet another one of those performances that would be given much more praise if seen by more viewers than just us horror fans. The few other cast members also do good work, with Bready enjoyably convincing as the established online yoga pro, and Anna Knigge doing very good work with the little time she gets portraying Anya's mother, Lenka.
While it makes use of a certain style for most of the runtime, Mind Body Spirit never really commits to something that could completely restrict the film-makers. I wouldn't be happy about this if it seemed to be trying to selling itself as something it isn't, but the format makes sense in showing the box that Anya wants to place herself in, and the elements that work outwith the expected boundaries allow things to move in and out of the featured space, as if watching a subject that is being expertly moved in and out of focus while being examined under a microscope.
There's some crisp cinematography from Blake Horn, a nice selection of music from Sean Thatcher Hubrich, and some impressive makeup and effects work, some subtle and some not-so-subtle. There are many who will hate something so slight and relatively tame, but it's all constructed with great care. And the few proper scares delivered are delivered with aplomb. Namaste.
8/10
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