31 Days of Halloween

[FAFF] ‘Katherine’s Lullaby’ review: Great storytelling leads to shocking payoff

The ties that bind.

October 31, 2020

Welcome to another installment of 31 Days of Halloween! This is our chance to set the mood for the spookiest and scariest month of the year as we focus our attention on horror and Halloween fun. For the month of October we’ll be sharing various pieces of underappreciated scary books, comics, movies, and television to help keep you terrified and entertained all the way up to Halloween.

Making its world premiere at the Frightening Ass Film Fest, Katherine’s Lullaby is a psychological thriller that explores twisted family bonds. The movie is about a girl named Lily (Tori Kostic) who runs away from her abusive father. Just when she thinks she has found help, she ends up locked in a basement by a mysterious man named Evan (William Kircher). It soon becomes clear the movie is more than just a story about an abduction.

Katheine’s Lullaby is filled with emotion not normally found in these types of films. Of course, there is the expected tension. Close calls are a necessity and the movie delivers. Where the story stands out is in its character development. Katherine’s Lullaby is more than a crazy captor movie. The movie goes to great pains to make Evan a sympathetic person.

This is a huge risk since Evan is holding a person hostage. Yet, writer/producer/director Savvas Christou makes it work. As the story progresses, the audience learns that Katherine’s Lullaby is more than meets the eye. It touches on the normal themes of obsession but does so with a different spin. This allows the movie to push against the boundaries of the genre.

[FAFF] 'Katherine's Lullaby' review: Great storytelling leads to shocking payoff

Helping matters is Kircher in the role of Evan. He plays the part with a sadness that allows audiences to feel for him. At the same time, there is a fear of what he may do next. The manipulation of family bonds in Katherine’s Lullaby adds another layer to the film. The shifting power dynamic is an integral part of the plot. Lily is more than just a helpless victim. It is a slight tweak to the formula, but it is enough to make things more engaging.

Katherine’s Lullaby is a unique psychological thriller that looks at the power of family bonds. The small cast carries the film thanks to some strong performances. The story touches on family and the need for love. The film is as moving as it is tension filled. The shocking ending will polarize audiences but the journey there is a satisfying one.

Katherine’s Lullaby is playing at the virtual Frightening Ass Film Fest. Badges ($25 gives access to everything!) available here.

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