Although I am late getting to this review of Hauntology, as I am late getting to a number of reviews for films that I watched in one great weekend a few weeks ago, I have been motivated to be more positive and upbeat about it after seeing a general consensus for it that I deem to be unfairly harsh. Hauntology is a horror anthology with a nice strand of LGBTQ+ identity weaving throughout every main sequence, and it stands out as a great example of how to do this kind of thing well.
The framing device concerns Jazmin (Samantha Russell) tracking down her upset sister, Venus (Jaidyn Triplett). Venus is upset because she can't trust her parents to support her as she explores her sexuality and identity, and Jazmin understands some of her misgivings. Jazmin also knows the history of their town though, and some past spirits that are always after an opportunity to create some trouble in the present.
Written and directed by Parker Brennon, this is in line with a lot of other horror anthologies. Not every segment works as well as it could, but there's enough variety to ensure that most viewers should find at least one or two tales worthy of their time. You get four separate stories, and there are elements that work their way into the unfolding tale of Jazmin and Venus. The first feels very similar to what is arguably the best part of Tales From The Darkside: The Movie, the second is the one I was least entertained by, the third is a fun riff on the kind of thing that would feature in any Hammer/Amicus anthology, and the final tale is the most classic, in terms of the genre trappings and spooky atmosphere. Each sequence also explores racism and homophobia, in different ways, mixing in everyday tensions and fears with the supernatural.
Brennon somehow manages to keep things consistent while allowing every individual tale to feel different enough from the others surrounding it. Everything looks and sounds great throughout, particularly impressive for an independent feature, and I would be very disappointed if this doesn't provide Brennon with a stepping stone to whatever they might want to do next.
Russell and Triplett are both very good in their roles, which makes it easier to put up with anyone onscreen who isn't quite as good. I can't think of anyone who really lets the team down though. Ace Rosas and Zoey Luna stand out in the first tale, Jacinda Forbes is very good as the heart of the second tale, Aaron Turnbull, Kurt Oberhaus, and Samantha Robinson provide some fun in the third tale, and James DeForest Parker, Nancy Loomis, and Annie Fitzpatrick do such good work in the fourth tale that they may make you wish that they'd also been used elsewhere in the film. Lindsey McDowell also deserves a mention, as do Abigail Esmena, Aubree Bowen, Naomi Grossman, and one or two others I obviously cannot think of right at this moment.
Maybe I'm speaking out of turn, but I feel like we horror fans are always on the lookout for the next great horror anthology. There are plenty to check out, but many of them nowadays are created by simply stitching together shorts helmed by different directors. Hauntology has one individual at the helm, one voice telling the tales, and that helps it to feel far superior to the many patchwork portmanteaus that are usually mentioned when people ask for horror anthology recommendations.
8/10
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