Review by Chris Rennirt
Cynthia Winstone (Ashley Greene) is a psychiatrist with a supernatural ability to enter the mind’s of others, helping them conquer fears, traumas and evils in the deepest and darkest of places. Along with her daughter Jordan (Ellie O’Brien), she runs a business from home doing exactly that. (Of course, this isn’t the type of treatment modern science would allow in a hospital.) All goes well until one day, shortly after the movie begins, when a teenage girl shows up at the door unexpectedly, frantic, insisting she must see Cynthia Winstone…and needs help immediately. The malevolent force within the girl’s mind (and sometimes outside of it) is one that can destroy even those most gifted and powerful to fight it! It Feeds (written and directed by Chad Archibald) is a truly scary movie with many messages and metaphors, complex and intelligent, with mysteries to keep you thinking. While derivative of others before it, It Feeds, makes a most unique and effective horror homage well worth seeing.
“Don’t be scared. It’s worse if you’re afraid.”
To what academic depths and fearful fathoms does It Feeds descend? What metaphors and deeper meaning lie within its horrific, nightmarish mindscapes? Most overtly, its message is one from the power of mental trauma, from whatever source it comes, growing, becoming ever stronger and destructive, unless confronted…and defeated. While this can be a horror of the mind, of the real world, here we have a demon of metaphor and reality, with supernatural and physical manifestations–a demon that feeds, quite literally, on its host, causing injury and wasting as it does. While sounding like something you’ve seen before, It Feeds, in spite of itself, defies the odds to be something refreshingly different and original.
Ashley Greene (as Cynthia Winstone) in It Feeds
“And how is It Feeds original, yet derivative of films before it?” you ask. It is derivative in being and homage, intentionally. With Cynthia Winstone traveling into people’s minds, battling demons within, there are, of course, other such movies preceding it. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Insidious, and The Cell come to mind quickly. To be sure this is homage with intent, assurance comes straight from the director himself. In an interview in issue number 43 of Delirium magazine–one of my favorite horror reads–director Chad Archibald is asked if the movie’s similarities to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Insidious are intentional. In his answer, Archibald talks about how he was definitely inspired by those films (along with The Cell) and how It Feeds is intentionally based on those inspirations. Archibald also talks about how much he loves nightmares, and how they “bend the rules of the mind,” creating “such an interesting storytelling platform.” Indeed they do! It Feeds is the first of two consecutive movies I have watched and reviewed in which the writer/director uses intentional tropes as homages, as tributes to personally-inspirational movies and directors. (The second is Together, written and directed by Michael Shanks). Perhaps, with so many original ideas already done, tropes as inspiration, used intentionally as homages, are the future of horror. As encouragement, tropes have negative connotations, but homages do not. Movies like It Feeds prove that tropes and homages, working together, can be the genesis of exciting, demonically-original ideas!
Ellie O’Brien (as Jordan)
Another interesting homage to A Nightmare on Elm Street specifically is the name of the street where Cynthia Winstone and Jordan previously lived–Elm Borough. Yet another is the lavish, warrior-like way Cynthia is dressed in the mind of the demon, referencing, I think, the way Jennifer Lopez’s character Catherine Deane is dressed when she enters the mind of the serial killer in The Cell. As in The Cell, the inhabited mind dresses its visitor in what it finds appropriate: as a companion in The Cell, or an adversary in It Feeds.
“Someone digging around in your mind takes a lot out of you.” ~ Cynthia Winstone
What about special effects? It Feeds uses an impressive and effective combination of practical and digital effects, all blending seamlessly together, creating convincing reality, with no inferior CGI distracting. Digital effects are mostly used to render ghostly visions of the demon, while visions of the demon otherwise, and the places it inhabits, appear practical. Any amount of real, on-set effects in horror are always welcome, and It Feeds makes good use of the best, in large, if not predominant amounts!
Cynthia (Ashely Greene), Agatha (Juno Rinaldi) and Jordan (Ellie O’Brien)
The first, most important element in the film’s success is the quality of performances throughout. Every actor in the film does an excellent job portraying their character. Never in the film does any actor give a performance that distracts due to subpar acting. Ashely Greene (as Cynthia) and Ellie O’Biren (as Jordan), both protagonists in the film (and arguably both main characters), are an excellent duo of talent supporting one another, with equal strength and authenticity. Scenes where emotional realism can make or break the movie are slam dunked every time! Shayelin Martin (as Riley), Shawn Ashmore (as Randall), and Mark Taylor (as Detective Otis) further compliment the cast equally. Shaylin Martin, although a younger actor, is most impressive with a performance of veteran quality beyond her years. Her scenes, panicking on the porch of Cynthia’s house, along with her emotional pleas afterwards, offer quick proof of that!
Shawn Ashmore (as Randall)
Juno Rinaldi, always adding her distinct personality to any film, is a personal favorite. Here, as Agatha, she does it again, adding not only her standout uniqueness, but needed doses of humor as well. And just the right amount of humor it is! Director Chad Archibald (as writer and director) adds just enough comic relief, with Agatha! Interjected humor, in just the right places and measured amounts, contrasts with the horror, making both all the more impactful and effective.
“An entity has attached itself to you. It will be the weakest part of your mind…where you hold the most pain.” ~ Cynthia Winstone
Another cast member–and personal favorite, mentioned last here, but never least–is Julian Richings, as Dr. Ronald Whittaker. Richings is always as entertaining to watch as he is skillful at acting. Although his part is small–as a doctor Cynthia visits for advice–he leaves an impact, as usual, greater than his time on screen would allow lesser actors to achieve. Richings also stars in the horror film Anything for Jackson, also reviewed here on Space Jockey Reviews!
Mark Taylor (as Detective Otis)
A final quality of It Feeds is with its efficiently paced, well-focused plot. No time is wasted on unnecessary scenes, dialogue, or content otherwise. It’s a lean, fat-free film, with every scene and every minute counting, leaving no reason to check the time. The downfall of many otherwise good movies is not a downfall here!
Having the life drained out of you by a demon is a bitch!
What about gore? It Feeds is light on explicit gore, focusing more on what counts more (and scares more) in good horror. All the better, we have tension, unsettling atmosphere (lots of that!), with more psychological terror than blood. Frightening mindscapes, with dark, unknown places are highlights for fear and dread. And while the usual jump scares are included (as a likely homage from director Archibald), they work, without cheapening the story. Additionally, jump scares here seem more natural and organic, rather than totally contrived.
You’d be surprised what you’ll find…if you go looking!
In conclusion, It Feeds is an efficiently-scripted tale of possession with a demon most unique among demons. While drawing on classics for intentional homage, it offers a new experience in horror (in a genre where that’s difficult), with a cast of actors topping off its success. With deeper meaning and metaphors, it’s intelligent, making you think. With relatable characters, efficient pacing and A-list acting (even without A-list actors), it holds attention and convinces. Its rich atmosphere, great effects and real scares transcend its lower budget, exploring the darker places in your own mind…if you go looking! And by all means, go looking for It Feeds…before It looks for you!
Rocket Rating – 7.5
Chris Rennirt is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews appear in Effective Magazine and are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews.