By Jacob Cameron 

Hellcat is an original film from Shudder that starts out as a contained horror film. By the end, the paradigm shifts so drastically that it’s hard to tell what’s real. This makes for a surprisingly compelling film.

Hellcat was directed by Brock Bodell, who is primarily known for his editing work. It starred Dakota Gorman and Todd Terry. It tells the story of a woman named Lena, played by Gorman, who wakes up in the trailer of a man named Clive, played by Terry. Clive tells Lena that she is injured and that he is taking her to the hospital. Lena, naturally, does not trust Clive and tries to find a way out of the trailer. But getting out of the trailer is quaint compared to what Lena and Clive must contend with.

With such a small cast, the performances have to be strong. Gorman and Terry do an admirable job; with the former contending with Clive as well as her own demons. The film doesn’t give too much away as to what those demons are. But there is deep trauma lying beneath the surface. This whole film is a mystery; it starts with an understanding of what to expect and then changes everything.

At around the halfway point of the film, something is revealed in regards to Lena and Clive that changes the genre of the film midstream. A decision such as this one can be devastating for a film because there is a risk of “losing the plot.” However, in subtle ways, the film prepares you for the twist. The film presents certain elements and shots that feel random but make sense as more is revealed in the 3rd act.

As an example, you don’t see Clive for the first half of the film. He only heard him through a speaker placed in a taxidermied animal on the wall of his trailer. Compounding things are certain items in the trailer that are present that paint a sinister picture. Throughout this first half, you think that Clive is not telling the full story. He is not, but he is not telling the full story that a viewer might expect. Similarly, Lena has a secret of her own; she just doesn’t realize just how big the secret is until it overwhelms her.

The one big issue with the film is that some of the imagery can be a bit surreal. To the point where it would become distracting. It doesn’t help that some of the imagery is a bit heavy-handed in consideration of the more subtle aspects of the film. This is not to say that this would be too distracting. But it is worth noting in consideration of the twist and how it affects the plot.

Ultimately, this was a pleasant surprise of a film. Well acted with a good twist that makes for a genuinely compelling film. This is destined to be one of the more underrated horror films of the year.

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 stars