Lavender is a wonderful horror surprise and it’s out on Netflix now. It features a good story and even if you guess the twists, it’s creepy all the same!
Honestly, I knew Lavender had at least three things going for it. You see, I usually really like movies with either Abbie Cornish, Justin Long or Dermot Mulroney, and with Lavender I get all three.
Abbie Cornish is absolutely the star of this movie, but Justin Long and Dermot Mulroney both have very important roles. And, of course, they both really deliver.
And yes, you may have guessed a few of the plot twists along the way, but that’s okay. This is a mystery and the point is to find answers. So if you managed to find them before they were presented to you, then you should just enjoy the gorgeous visuals and good acting.
Especially the kids in this movie are working extremely well. There are three larger roles played by young actors Peyton Kennedy, Lola Flanery and Sarah Abbott, who I’m certain we’ll be seeing alot more of in the future. I really hope so anyway!
No, you won’t find Pennywise in Lavender
In these days of anticipating the new It adaptation, you can’t really see a red ballon and not think of Pennywise. However, I can assure you that the red ballon in Lavender does not come with a clown in any shape.
I almost expected it myself, but it’s just a symbol of childhood – as it’s the case in Stephen King’s story as well – and it works perfectly as a contrast to all the vast fields. Lavender really is a very beautiful movie in many ways, but the story is always the main focus.
From the very beginning, we know that a young girl is the only survivor after the rest of her family has been killed. That’s all we really know at first, and the main protagonist (Abbie Cornish) is pretty much in the same situation. Well, a bit worse off, since she has forgotten who she is as an adult as well, after a car accident.
This is when she starts exploring her past to find out who she is now. Her husband (Diego Klattenhoff from The Blacklist) is both understanding of the situation and protective of their daughter. It works very organically and it’s pretty great to see a family working together during hard times, instead of the usual drama.
The perfect horror mystery
Lavender is the kind of horror mystery that most people should enjoy. It’s not the hardcore slasher and gore movie. Instead it deals with some very real dangers and everyday horror. To me that’s a lot scarier. And yes, it can be entertaining as well. Sometimes even more so because it’s all about the storytelling.
Ed Gass-Donnelly directed and co-wrote the movie with Colin Frizzell. This marks Colin Frizzell writing debut, while Ed Gass-Donnelly has several produced scripts under his belt. Usually, he directs his own projects as it was the case with Lavender.
Lavender premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last year. As of April 2, 2017, you can watch it on Netflix globally.
Details
Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly
Writer: Colin Frizzell, Ed Gass-Donnelly
Cast: Abbie Cornish, Dermot Mulroney, Justin Long, Diego Klattenhoff, Lola Flanery, Peyton Kennedy, Sarah Abbott
Plot
After losing her memory, a woman begins to see unexplained things after her psychiatrist suggests she visit her childhood home.
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