Besetment [Film]

I want to start this thing out by saying that I had far more fun with this film that I thought I would. Also, if you are a person like me who enjoys a splendid ending to a very fucked up tale that has you shaking your head and muttering “God, dammit” in a truly positive way, I can absolutely guarantee that Besetment is the film for you. So let’s begin….

Filmmaker Brad Douglas is definitely one of these amazing guys that was obviously destined to be a masterful storyteller for the screen. With Besetment, he has managed to visually display a truly original story even if it surrounds itself in usual circumstance. I won’t pretend to think that I am the first person who is going to say that Besetment is Psycho meets Twin Peaks, right down to the wonderful music and the police comradely. These things are obvious, and a brilliant homage. But where Douglas stands out is in his obvious belief that nothing exceeds like excess. I’d love to explain this further, but I really feel like you need to watch the film, and only then will you truly know what I am talking about. And with that, maybe an explanation of the film itself is in order. So here we go:

“Besetment stars Abby Wathen (The Bay) as a young woman who takes a hotel position in a small town where she ends up fighting for her life.

Amanda Millard, struggling and desperate for a job, takes a position at a hotel in a small town in Oregon. It’s a creepy, back country kind of town but owners Mildred Colvin and her son Billy seem nice enough at first. It’s not long before Amanda discovers their real intentions, and her struggle to make a living becomes a nightmarish fight for her life.”

Yeah, that just about explains the story in the most generalized context, without giving some truly amazing and completely fucked up little bits that truly make the film original and compelling. Brad Douglas has the same sort of gall that I have always admired in the likes of a brilliant B Horror filmmaker like Steve Sessions, who many readers will already know I admire whole-heartedly. Both Douglas and Sessions are wonderful writers and filmmakers who know how to get to the true essence of a story, and how to portray it on film in a great way…yet, you wish the land of Hollywood was able to throw them a few million bones to bring their amazing vision to a more polished work. But, when you live in a constant state of resentment for the bullshit that is brought before our eyes on a weekly basis, you learn how to look back at the brilliant independent filmmakers who simply want to tell a brilliant/terrifying as fuck type of tale. And that is exactly what we have with Besetment. You could wish it had a couple of million dollars thrown at it, or you can simply respect it for what is in front of you.

And speaking of what is in front of us, the acting is mostly something I would definitely NOT trade out for the world. For anyone who is reading this post viewing, you are bound to and should be ordered to say that Marlyn Mason was absolutely brilliant and fucking disturbing! She is definitely an obvious highlight of the film. But, Abby Wathen’s performance should not be over-shadowed as she is a brilliant actress with an incredible amount of promise that we are sure to see more of in the future.

Overall, this is a brilliant independent horror film that, if given a proper chance, can be truly appreciated by anyone who enjoys a great story and a collection of wonderful performances. So watch Besetment folks, you won’t be disappointed.

Besetment premieres on VOD June 6th with a DVD release to follow September 5th.

Check out the trailer for Besetment, here: