Arts Festival review
Horror Civic, until Sunday Dione Joseph squeaks, gurgles, laughter and jewellery box music as well as some excellent instrumental.
It occasionally leans more towards what you expected from Spookers as opposed to Psycho but it’s an interesting, if patchy, cinematic mosaic. But does it work?
Not really. Horror is more of a pastiche with a mishmash of references that pay homage to the film genre and it’s not the nail-biter we’re told to expect.
Far too many of the moments veer on the cliched, and the timing often results in comedy rather than neighbour-clutching terror. The underlying story, based on nepotism and child abuse, is also a rather tired trope for a contemporary production.
The strength of the work lies with the brilliant mime performances of the artists. Both Judith Hazeleger and Gwen Langenberg are phenomenal performers and are well supported by the other members of the cast.
Coupled with excellent choreography, the various sub-plots come together to provide the highly anticipated blood-dripping climax: an entertaining, yet inevitably predictable throat-slitting, knifewielding finale.
The set and lighting are also worth a mention. Replete with vintage music systems and crackly televisions that turn on at ghostly whim, animated objects, and a number of fabulous disappearing tricks, this is the perfect magician’s studio.
It lives up to its reputation with plenty of gore but as a theatrical work, Horror performs much better as a satire than fear-inducing drama.