Faulkner + Lovecraft = Interseason Offseason is a low-budget 2021 American mystery horror film with unknown actors in roles (at least in Russia). It was released in digital format, it was shown in a limited release - the fees are ridiculous even for Russian films. He received not very high rating, and, apparently, did not win any awards. Perhaps the filmmakers did not expect this.
In general, according to technical data, this is a one-time movie, but despite all this, the film should be mentioned. At least lovers of Lovecraft should see it - there are no direct references to the myths of Cthulhu here, but the idea is similar and someone there is still a little fhtagn.
I liked it stronger than many of the advertised horror movies – especially all sorts of prequels, sequels and other spin-offs that went only on the popularity of the franchise. Here there is history and background, and it could be continued.
It even seemed to be taken down from some original work. Well -- almost right. After smoking the internet, I learned that director Mickey Keating (I’ve never heard of him before, but I’ll try to find other films) was writing the script inspired by Faulkner’s story “Rose for Emily” a few years ago, and only after writing it, contacted the producer. And yes... the finals are a little similar, and even the rose in the last frames is present (though if I hadn’t read about it, I wouldn’t have noticed any connection). That is, the film is not made to order, but for the soul, so to speak. In short, he connected Faulkner with Lovecraft, and it turned out “Interseason”.
The film is set on a tourist island that connects a drawbridge to the mainland. In autumn, in the off-season, the bridge rises, cutting off communication with the big land until spring.
Shortly before her death, a survivor of the mind, who grew up on this island, began to tell Marie all sorts of fables about it. Once the first settlers almost died in a storm, but a man came out of the sea offering salvation in exchange for their souls. Since then, all the inhabitants of the island have been cursed. Mary's mother told her not to bury her in this place. However, in the will for some reason asked to do just that.
Some time after her daughter’s funeral, a letter came in that someone had destroyed her mother’s grave. Marie and her boyfriend go to the island. The bridge is about to be lifted, we need to find the cemetery caretaker. But something went wrong. They did not find the caretaker, decided to return and managed to get lost on the only road leading to the bridge.
“Don’t try to leave Omsk,” the island says. - Winter is coming. The bridge is up, Marie is alone. Now she has to unravel the secret that her mother has carefully kept for so many years.
The picture is divided into several chapters, the name of each is served in such beautiful openwork retro frames. It looks stylish. The film itself is also stylish, sometimes reminiscent of old horror films. Long atmospheric scenes in which the camera then slides behind the heroine, as if watching her from the side. The night, the island, its strange inhabitants, the incipient storm, the Lovecraft Sea - everything is great. Although, of course, many techniques were invented a long time ago, but still impressive.
There is no special action here, only a few moments, and not very frightening, rare screamers also will not make you jump from the chair. But the story itself is captivating, pulling with it. Heroes are all colorful, even secondary.
Much remains not entirely incomprehensible, but here is a fantasy to help, think for yourself. In general, the film turned out, no matter how much critics scolded it.
The only drawback for me is two or three flashbacks in which Marie suddenly recalls talking to her mother. Sorry, but the viewer should know this either from the beginning or guess along with the hero (as, for example, masterfully does Stephen King).