Piper (2023) Frightfest 2023 Movie Review

Piper – Frightfest 2023 Movie Review

Director: Anthony Waller

Writer: Duncan Kennedy, Anthony Waller (Screenplay)

Cast

Elizabeth Hurley (Bedazzled)
Mia Jenkins (Hanna)
Jack Stewart (Outlander)
Robert Daws (The Royal)
Gundars Abolins (Midsummer Madness)

Plot: Liz and her daughter Amy move to Hamelin where a dark secret in Liz’s past is uncovered by the restless spirit of the Pied Piper, who seeks out those who have gotten away with a crime and punishes them by taking away their children.

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Piper starts when Liz (Haines) and her daughter Amy (Jenkins) move to Hamelin to start afresh. Liz is taking over a teaching role and Amy must adapt to the new school. It doesn’t take long before the two start looking into the historical story of the Pied Piper.

To make matters worse Amy has already started to see things around the home. Meanwhile, Liz deals with rats in the home, despite being told there are none. Amy finds herself getting the attention of local outsider Luca (Stewart) who offers to help her, knowing what could be coming her way.

Verdict on Piper

Piper is a fantasy horror following a mother and daughter looking to start a fresh life. They move to Hamelin but soon their past comes back to haunt them, as they find themselves the latest targets of the Pied Piper. Now, they must figure out a way to break the curse before it is too late.

This is a horror that brings a new legacy behind the legend of the Pied Piper. It brings an interesting spin to the creepy history behind it. However, when it comes to most of the haunting moments, they don’t feel as original as they should. This holds back the true terror going on, as it feels like more would have been done about the legend after all these years.

Another big question mark over everything is the uncomfortable relationship between Amy and Luca. Where he clearly looks like an adult, while she is meant to still be a schoolgirl. The performances are strong enough, but they don’t seem to make the biggest impact on the events of the movie.

Final Thoughts –Piper is an interesting dive into a legendary horror story.