‘Screwdriver’ (2023) Is A Twisted Addition To The Pscyhological Thriller Genre

Of all the sub-genres in horror, one that gets overlooked occasionally is the psychological thriller. Psychological thriller movies play a pivotal role in horror for several compelling reasons. First, they offer a distinct and intellectually stimulating dimension to the genre, focusing on psychological and emotional terror rather than relying solely on jump scares or gore. These films delve into the deepest recesses of the human psyche, exploiting our fears, anxieties, and uncertainties. By doing so, they create a more profound and lasting sense of unease, making the horror experience truly memorable. In this way, psychological thrillers broaden the horizons of horror, appealing to a diverse audience that may be seeking a more cerebral and psychologically engaging form of fear.

 Secondly, psychological thrillers often explore themes that transcend the supernatural or the monstrous, making them relatable and thought-provoking. They can reflect real-life concerns like the fragility of the human mind, the consequences of trauma, and the blurred lines between sanity and insanity. This makes psychological horror films a platform for social commentary and self-reflection, offering viewers a chance to confront their fears and anxieties in a safe and controlled setting. Ultimately, psychological thrillers enrich the horror genre by adding depth and complexity, allowing it to evolve beyond its traditional boundaries and cater to a broader range of tastes and interests in the realm of fear and suspense. All these, of course, are compelling reasons why you may need to think about investing more time into the backseat sub-genre of horror which is psychological thriller movies.

Recently I had the chance to watch quite the compelling psychological thriller movie from the film company Buffalo 8 called ‘Screwdriver’. This movie stars AnnaClare Hicks, Charlie Farrell, Milly Sanders and Matt Munroe. It is written and directed by Cairo Smith. The synopsis for this movie is as follows:

“Blindsided by divorce, thirty-three-year-old Emily leaves her adopted Nebraska behind, returning to California with nothing but a suitcase in hand. She seeks refuge in the home of an old high school friend and his pharmacologist wife. The childless couple welcomes Emily into their lives, but their hospitality soon gives way to a surreal plot of cult-like manipulation and betrayal. As days bleed together, Emily falls into a delirious tailspin, forcing her to question her faith, her sanity, and the intentions of her generous hosts.”

There is a lot that can be said about this movie in terms of the twisted way it plays with your mind. Lots of psychological thriller movies throughout the years tend to be somewhat obvious when you creep toward the third act. This one in particular was not a “run of the mill” transition to the third act you have most likely come to expect over the years. This is one of those films that makes you question your theories throughout and then toss them out the window once the final 15 minutes of the movie approaches. If you’re a visual person, the perfect example would be any meme featuring Charlie Kelly from ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ showing his crazy board with the name Pepe Silvia on it.

I very much felt like Charlie Kelly towards the end of this movie with my board of confusion and theories, which I am sure made sense to me while watching this movie but when looked at a much later time didn’t. If that says anything, it should tell you that this is a psychological thriller like no other. Many of us have seen thousands of movies these days (especially with the massive amounts of movies streaming out there) so predictability in movies tends to go hand in hand with any movie fan. For me, it has been many years since I had seen a movie that made me second guess every theory, every thought, or every whim of confidence I had as someone who knew exactly what he was in for. This movie is not only a slow burn, but a burn that will stay ignited well after the credits roll.  

 All of this really is credited to the way this movie was written and filmed by Cairo Smith. He is able to take a small amount of location space (in this case with it being inside a home the entire time) and weave a 94-minute runtime that keeps you on the edge of your seat is very impressive. However, this is not the only impressive thing about how this movie was made. There is a subtle, yet elegant way the movie is shot with each frame that really appeals to someone with an eye that appreciates artistic and craftsmanship in the movies they watch. I really loved the aesthetic look the entire movie provided. The way that each character is framed to perfectly reflect their concern, sadness, insanity, and intense mental breakdowns was truly satisfying, as well as triumphant.

 The way this movie looks was not the only thing this movie should really be proud of. The cast was perfectly chosen for this movie and the range each one of them provided to their characters was incredible. The character of Emily (portrayed by AnnaClare Hicks) had a roller coaster amount of range that when from quirky and shy, to confused and crazed without skipping a beat. Then you have the husband and wife characters Robert (portrayed by Charlie Farrell) and Melissa (portrayed by Milly Sanders) who had an immensely powerful back and forth of emotions that was spellbinding to watch.

It is one thing to play a husband and wife on-screen who enjoy each other or are in love, but it is another thing to play a married couple who clearly despise each other. Not to mention the clear cult-like behavior they are setting up for Emily. Both Charlie and Milly achieved an astronomical performance portraying the tortured and decayed love between them. Not to mention the way that Charlie’s character of Robert gives you the vibes of Christian Bale in ‘American Psycho’ with his charm, but somewhat obvious nefarious intent behind his eyes. It was truly an incredible performance to watch.

This movie had a lot going for it and was very entertaining to watch. It had a lot of complex elements to it and is one I could see people chatting about at the company water cooler, delving out their own theories or thoughts of the movie on a mid-Monday afternoon.

‘Screwdriver’ from Buffalo 8 is available nationwide on Cable, VOD, and Digital HD on November 10th. Be sure to jump at the chance to watch this movie and create your own theories before everyone else does.

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