Stewart Thorndike's sophomore directorial endeavor, "Bad Things," embarks on a reimagining journey, drawing inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's iconic "The Shining." This queer reinterpretation navigates the eerie corridors of the Comely Suites, a snow-covered suburban hotel intertwined with traumatic memories and unresolved relationships. While the film endeavors to carve its niche, it struggles to harness the potential of its high-concept premise.
Synopsis: Echoes of the Past
Ruthie (Gayle Rankin) inherits the enigmatic Comely Suites from her mother, an inheritance laden with a complex mother-daughter relationship and harrowing memories. Seeking solace, she invites her girlfriend Cal (Hari Nef) and friends Maddie (Rad Pereira) and Fran (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) for a weekend getaway at the hotel. However, their stay becomes a descent into an oppressive world of isolation and haunting influences. As underlying tensions surface and seeds of doubt, envy, and anger take root, the group is ensnared by a maelstrom of volatile forces.
Review: Unfulfilled Echoes
"Bad Things" openly acknowledges its inspiration from "The Shining," embracing thematic parallels and atmospheric cues. Yet, despite its bold reimagining of gender roles and relationships, the film falls short of delivering on its intriguing concept.
The film's central focus revolves around the friendship and romantic connections among the quartet, aiming to ground its narrative in their dynamics. Unfortunately, the connections established among the characters are lackluster and devoid of authenticity. The absence of chemistry and emotional resonance in their performances leaves the friendships feeling contrived and unconvincing. This deficit in emotional investment hinders the film's ability to evoke genuine tension.
Ruthie's strained relationship with her mother and the shadows of infidelity taint her connection with Cal. However, these scattered fragments of personal history fail to garner the narrative support required to flourish into meaningful elements. Ruthie's character, while central to the plot, is disappointingly one-dimensional. The script's appeal for empathy with her plight falls flat due to her underdeveloped nature. Even the trauma plot, which forms the film's subtext, feels tacked on rather than a deeply explored thematic thread.
The cinematography emerges as the film's standout feature, capturing the essence of the eerie Comely Suites. The cold and clinical visuals stand in stark contrast to the hotel's surreal undertones and enigmatic layout. Every corner, from the pool to the desolate rooms, becomes a canvas for unsettling visuals. The setting itself evolves into a character that fosters the unsettling ambiance permeating the narrative.
Conclusion
"Bad Things" showcases an ambitious premise, aiming to deconstruct and reimagine a classic. Yet, it stumbles in delivering a cohesive narrative that breathes life into its characters and themes. Despite its evocative cinematography and conceptual aspirations, the film falters in translating its potential into a compelling cinematic experience. As echoes of its source material reverberate through the narrative, "Bad Things" stands as a testament to missed opportunities and unrealized visions.
Bad things (2023) - info
- Release date: June 9, 2023
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Director: Stewart Thorndike
- Writer: Stewart Thorndike
- Stars: Gayle Rankin, Hari Nef, Annabelle Dexter-Jones