Delusion (2016)
Starring David Graziano, Jami Tennille, Irina Peligrad
Directed by Christopher Di Nunzio
The idea of loss is a troubling one, especially when it’s the absence of a loved one. Be it a spouse, parent, friend or even pet – to come away without a small piece of your heart being torn apart is quite the feat, and it’s even more challenging to put certain thoughts out of your mind when it comes to the memory of that loved one. In Delusion, the film from Christoper Di Nunzio, the topic of loss is battered around overwhelmingly, and what becomes of the mind afterwards plays a heavy role. This isn’t your ordinary psychological/thriller flick – it’s much more.
The main character in this presentation is Frank (Graziano), a widower who is still grieving over the loss of his wife 3 years later, and at the film’s onset, he is reading a note he recently received from her – now if that isn’t enough to chill your bones, I don’t know what is. With a little coaxing from his nephew, Frank decides that it’s better for a man with wounded heart to move on with his life, and after a mysterious but alluring woman named Mary (Tennille) appears, Frank looks to the bright side of things once again: a heart renewed, if you will. Amidst several warnings from a medium (Peligrad), Frank presses on with his pursuit of this enigmatic new woman in his life, and the results are less than desirable. What used to be sorrowful thoughts, become replaced with ones ripe with hopes and dreams, then imminently grow dark and foreboding…should’ve listened to the psychic, Frank.
What lies within the remainder of the film is a noir-like blend of intrigue, mystery and hidden secrets, all capped off with a heavy dose of someone grasping at what once was. I can see fans of old-time cinema absolutely devouring this one, while horror fans looking for a chill-a-minute feeling a little cold-shouldered. Di Nunzio relies heavily on the portrayals of his characters in this piece, and if there were the 500-lb gorilla in the room to speak of, it would be the acting itself, bordering on atrocious at times. I can certainly appreciate the topic and the sentiment in which its meant to be conveyed, but in more than a handful of scenes, I was praying for the counterfeit emotions to cease immediately. Outside of that insanely dark cloud, I did enjoy the film for what it was – a progression from grief, and the binding weight that can pull someone down with as a result of that sadness. If you have the opportunity, I advise giving this one a solid look when it makes its rounds.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
