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CINEMA

QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD (2024)

Genre: Horror.

Director: Stephanie Izsak.

Cast: Morgan Taylor Campbell. Stephanie Izsak. Bennett Taylor.

[Seen at Nightmares Film Festival 2024]

"A woman recovering from her past begins to experience sleep paralysis. She must determine if the phenomena is just a part of her healing process - or if something otherworldly waits in the dark."

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

Stephanie Izsak’s Queen of the Underworld is an unsettling, yet remarkably uplifting film about moving forward after a tragic passing of a loved one. 

The film's opening scene highlights the sharp and impactful dialogue between an addict conversing at a diner with her sponsor. As the conversations become minimal further along, we witness Kate's dive through her loss of reality and her clear unease of being alone. A terrific lead performance by Morgan Taylor Campbell as Kate, highlights the intensity and terror related to a horrifying sudden sleep paralysis she endures nightly. These shots perfectly reflect the fear in our lives in numerous ways… the fear of the dark, the fear of moving on, the fear of forgetting and the fear of the unknown. 

 

Queen of the Underworld is beautifully shot, fully captivating the viewer from beginning to end as our lead spirals through her suffering. There’s a nightmarish gloom to the reality of her existence and it allows for an extra dose of stress as the viewer is uncertain of what’s to come for this grieving widow. The nature of her reality assists in her portrayal of the underworld, achieving a pure sense of hope with its contrast in brightness. 

Tarot plays a minor role in the film and as someone unfamiliar with what the cards actually mean, the film does a great job of elaborating on it simply through the atmosphere.

 

Queen of the Underworld is a 16-minute short film that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat with a horrifying fear that translates to the hardships our lead is going through.

OUR VERDICT:

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