Glasshouse

The apocalypse - by way of the slow burn found inside folk horror - looks EXACTLY like Glasshouse.

Atmospheric in its rollout and made more suspenseful thanks to its own eeriness, Glasshouse is made complete thanks to the haunting (and absolutely stunning!!!) views of the Victorian Glass House at the center of this dystopian tale.  Glasshouse puts forth the question on whether or not we can survive a future full of pandemics and dares to answer it with a healthy sprinkling of The Beguiled, which starred Clint Eastwood, and a dash of lingering Covid-19 fears.

"throws its own rocks, showing just how sinister humanity can become in the face of psychological seduction and mental loss"


Confined to their airtight glasshouse, a family - consisting of a mother, three sisters, and one brother (who is apparently losing his mind) - has survived a pandemic which involves a toxin that erases memory, leaving people without a clue as to who they are.  It is known as THE SHRED and that’s exactly what it does to your memory, replacing it with no meaning whatsoever of family and responsibility.  Obviously, the world is in total chaos.

But the world is not this family’s glasshouse and here is where they stay, farming their own food supplies with the bodies of those who intrude upon their domain.  How they have managed to survive is anyone’s guess but all of their efforts to remain “normal” in spite of the pandemic gets knocked off the table when the eldest sister drags a survivor into their camp, breaking all of the established rules of keeping the outside world at bay.

Let the seduction begin!Glasshouse

Soon enough, Glasshouse has everyone trapped within its walls as this family’s peace (was it ever that?!) is shattered by this man’s presence and the temptation he brings.  This is a film that strikes with mood and with a gloomy atmosphere as temptations are teased.  Slow in its development, the patient viewer is rewarded with a narrative and finale that one might already suspect is on the horizon - thanks to the clues layered throughout - yet this South African tale proves worthy of the journey.

It seems isolation is its own worst enemy! 

With plenty of symbolism and metaphors guiding viewers, Glasshouse throws its own rocks, showing just how sinister humanity can become in the face of psychological seduction and mental loss.  The visual poetry of its cinematography absolutely oozes with above average quality for low budget cinema.  Couple that with the performances and Glasshouse deserves your attention, IF you can align with its apocalyptic pace.

From director Kelsey Egan who absolutely embraces the idea of how much these characters can endure and presents it in very disturbing ways, Glasshouse stars Jessica Alexander, Kitty Harris, Helton Pelser, Adrienne Pearce and Anja Taljaard, Glasshouse premieres on digital platforms July 12 in North America.

Keep the beast from your door! 

4/5 stars

Film Details

Glasshouse

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
90 mins
Director
: Kelsey Egan
Writer:
Emma Lungiswa De Wet; Kelsey Egan
Cast:
Jessica Alexander; Anja Taljaard; Hilton Pelser
Genre
: Sci-fi | Thriller
Tagline:
Oblivion is Bliss.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor:
Multichoice Studios
Official Site:
Release Date:
Digital platforms July 12 in North America.
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:

Synopsis: Confined to their glasshouse, a family survives The Shred, a toxin that erases memory. Until the sisters are seduced by a Stranger who shatters their peace and stirs a past best left buried.

Art

Glasshouse