The Power – Shudder Review (4/5)

THE POWER is a British horror movie on Shudder. Set in the 1970s during the many rolling blackouts. The perfect setting for a story that plays out at night in a nearly empty hospital. Read our full The Power horror movie review here!

THE POWER is a Shudder horror movie with both psychological and supernatural elements. Since the story plays out during the miners’ strike in 1970s Britain, we’re dealing with rolling blackouts. Such a perfect backdrop for a horror movie.

Armed with nothing but a flashlight, a young nurse moves around a nearly abandoned hospital. Here, she witnesses several things. Both of very human nature and of a rather sinister and supernatural kind. Fortunately, it also has a really good ending, which should please most – in one way or another.

Continue reading our The Power horror movie review below and find it on Shudder.

Rose Williams shines as Val

In the lead role, we see Rose Williams who is really stunning in her portrayal. She’s a young nurse who honestly just wants to do good. Especially since she’s already had a rather terrible life. Her awful childhood is revealed bit by bit and only gets darker and more brutal along the way.

As the nurse, Val, Rose Williams delivers a portrait of someone who refuses to give up when others need her help. At the same time, she seems to have given up hope for herself which is why she’s devoting herself to patients. In some ways, she reminded me of the lead character in Saint Maud (2019).

Recommended reading: Our review of the brilliant horror movie Saint Maud here >

Then again, Val (Rose Williams), is cut from a very different cloth, so the two can’t really be compared. It wouldn’t be fair to Val, to do so. If Rose Williams looks familiar it may be because you’ve seen her in one or more TV series. She’s been in Reign, Medici, and starred in  Jane Austen’s Sanditon to name just a few.

One minor hick-up

I never really like to nitpick, but as a fan of Stephen King, I couldn’t help but notice an error (or a “goof”, if you will) in The Power. At one point, we see a nurse with a book she’s reading and it’s Stephen King’s debut novel, Carrie. Or rather, his first to actually be published.

Cool reference was probably my first thought. Then I remembered that this movie takes place in 1973. It’s right there in the official plot description. However, Carrie wasn’t released until April of 1974. The feature film starring Sissy Spacek in the title role (and directed by Brian De Palma) came out in 1976.

I know many Stephen King fans will notice this, but honestly, this was probably the only thing I could falter this movie. In other words, The Power is very much worth watching. In the future, someone should check these facts to avoid such errors. No reason to give the audience anything to finger.

Watch The Power on Shudder!

Corinna Faith is the writer and director of The Power which is only her second feature film. Her debut film was the drama Ashes from 2005. In between, she’s worked mostly on documentary productions. Also, she wrote a bit for the Netflix series The Innocents which we’ve reviewed here >

From what Corinna Faith managed to deliver with The Power, I am definitely on board to follow her career and watch whatever comes next. She certainly seems to have a talent for both writing and directing. With both a strong plot and intriguing characters to helm the story, I am one happy (and rather terrified) camper.

Don’t miss out on The Power on Shudder. Watch it in the dark and with full attention and be treated to a little horror gem. 

THE POWER is out exclusively on Shudder from April 8, 2021.

Details

Director: Corinna Faith
Writer: Corinna Faith
Stars: Rose Williams, Emma Rigby, Charlie Carrick, Clara Read, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Diveen Henry, Nuala McGowan