Director: Rebekah Fortune
Writer: Diana Townsend (Screenplay)
Starring: Gus Barry, Lara Lemon, Peter Lloyd, Rebecca Reaney, Vic Stagliano
Plot: After the tragic death of her husband, a soldier posted to Afghanistan, Bryony tries to build a new life for herself and her young son, James. Struggling with her own grief she fails to notice that James has become secretive and withdrawn, spending hours alone playing out death scenes with his toys. When things start to go missing and furniture is smashed Bryony blames James but when she confronts him she finds herself facing a reality more terrifying than any nightmare. As her world crashes around her Bryony realises that he ate a way to reconnect with her son she and James will be separated for ever.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Enjoyable Horror
Story: Deadly Intent starts as we meet former soldier Bryony (Reaney) who has returned home from action but has a strained relationship with son James (Barry). When strange thing start happening around the house Bryony blames James but with both dealing with the loss of the husband and father we see how both are struggling to come to terms with it.
To get away from these events they move in with her sister Lisa (Lemon) but the events continue to follow as it becomes clear that a spirit might have attached itself to James as he continues to miss his father.
Deadly Intent tries to channel all the Babadook bandwagon of having a haunting event within a household that could easily be a cover for domestic abuse. This doesn’t reach all the same levels of that one but is much clearly on why the sudden change has happened with our characters. I feel this film is one twist away from a truly terrifying shock with performances that don’t convince on the same level of Essie Davis. I do think the horror fans out there will get what they are looking from this film.
Overall: Horror film that works on the levels it needs to without excelling.
Rating
