Why so much hype?

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

SPIKE is a cheesy indie fantasy, heavily indebted to the classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. The plot sees a trio of characters driving into the woods and getting lost, only to encounter a mysterious humanoid being which has designs on one of them. The whole film takes place in the dark and features consistently odd effects and dream imagery, with panthers and the like appearing. Unfortunately, the below par script means that this isn't romance, nor horrific, nor even interesting; just a dud.

I saw this film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and was kinda blown away by it. The set-up, a nocturnal descent into the rabbit hole, was really suspenseful and echoed a lot of horror movies we've seen before (only with more interesting characters). As the film progressed, however, I realized that I was in for a different kind of ride. The film is really a Gothic tragedy, about a damaged man with an impossible obsession. Personally, I loved the way the film thwarted my expectations and took me to a deeper kind of horror. The horror is nihilistic, the fear isn't of death so much as loneliness. Kudos to the actors for delivering such great performances, particularly the lead character, after whom the film is named. I loved the whole world of the film, dark, baroque, full of natural menace... Just great.

I recently returned home from Scotland where I attended the 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival.Along with the well-publicized, big budget films (The Edge of Love, Elegy, WALL-E), I was fortunate enough to view several films from EIFF's newest category, "Under The Radar". Under the Radar introduces movies that can best be described as "cult films" - think "A Clockwork Orange" or "Blue Velvet". Artistic director Hannah McGill said, "With this new section, we want to re-animate the spirit of the truly cult-worthy 'midnight movie', by showing films that take real risks with their ideas, their aesthetic choices and their humor".Perhaps my favorite film in this category was Spike - Robert Beaucage's dark faerie tale that saw its world premiere 20 June at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. At first, Spike appears to be a horror film, and in a way, it is - but not in the way I expected. As Spike's plot unfurled, I began to realize maybe Spike was talking about me when he said, "The characters in faerie tales don't ever know they are in faerie tales". I was in a faerie tale in that theatre and didn't even realize. Spike is wonderfully directed, well acted and nicely shot, especially when considering its meager budget. Beaucage tells his story with an aesthetic eye and a visceral panache. Edward Gusts had me in tears with his portrayal of the love-ridden beasty. Nancy P. Corbo and Anna Marie Wayne are true highlights in the film, and Sarah Livingstone Evans shows admirable promise in her first movie role. Robert Hope wrote, "Spike prowls the dark lands that separates Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber from Charles Vess and Elaine Lee's astonishing graphic work Morrigan Tales. Yet rather than resulting in a series of ill-assimilated post-modern touchstones, its earthly cultivation of a monster's obsession with love's dead bloom is a talon-sharp original". Beaucage has truly created an original albeit very human cast of characters in his modern faerie tale for adults. Some might say Spike is Beauty and the Beast gone wrong. But who is Beauty and who is Beast? The Girl uses her feminine wiles to deceive Spike; so is she clever or a duplicitous bitch? Spike is well read, eloquent and romantic, but concurrently impales throats with abandon. Who is the hero in this faerie tale? All myths have to have a hero, don't they? This perfectionist's need for a tidy story gets thrown out the window here, but I find myself wanting more than is shown in the short eighty minute film. I felt myself aligned with Spike while at the same time disgusted for recognizing my own pathetic desperation when faced with abandonment and lack of love. My brain wanted a neatly packaged story ala 'hero defeats bad guy', but my soul was satisfied with the thorough gut wrench that Beaucage provided as he drew me into Spike's world. Those more comfortable with a simpler, more dualistic, good-is-good-and-bad-is-bad view of reality may find solace in films such as Independence Day or Ratatouille.Spike is not the stereotypical horror film. Michael Myers' Mama has never visited this winding road, so don't go looking for her there. Those hard up for Rothian torture porn need not apply. Spike is a horror film in that it forces the conscious viewer to examine his/her soul and accept the deformed monstrosity that dwells there; whether loved or no. This is not easy to do, and Spike is not an easy movie to watch. But those willing to be scratched and torn as they thrust their hands into this thorny thicket will find the rose that blooms within Spike truly beautiful.

This was a great movie. Dark, mysterious and entertaining. Just perfect. The characters were well developed. The plot was a okay, but definitely entertaining. The photography was great. The use of light, or lack thereof, was extremely creative and helped make the movie even more suspenseful. The acting was believable and well done. The storyline was well thought-out and took the audience on a journey.Some of the small technical problems can obviously be worked out as it seems that the movie is still in the final stages. The director (Robert Beaucage)even said that the movie hadn't been seen before, even by the cast. I'm not sure most were prepared for this film when they went to see it, but most of the audience at the Edinburgh Festival enjoyed this film.Beaucage incorporated some very original methods that pulled this film together. Several of the scenes are still having me rethink some of the techniques that he implemented. I really would love to see a final version and another film from this young director.