Father of Flies (2021)

Despite its dark and unsettling plot, "Father of Flies" falls short of its potential. In its brief moments of truth, the film fails to shine as brightly as it could have.

The new indie horror film is about a family still struggling to cope with the suicide of their mother. The father has a new girlfriend, but the children still resent him. The mother in the story spends most of her time watching TV with a cosmetic mask on, showing no interest in being a mother to her children. However, the youngest child, Michael, establishes a connection with her. Over time, the signs of something sinister begin to appear.

Father of Flies attempts to form a unique and harrowing experience but fails to follow through on some of its more promising moments. The limited budget and resources are apparent in many scenes, but the film contains moments of genuine fear and tension. Richard's dream sequence effectively conveys a sense of unease and dread.

The film's scare tactics are uninspired and generic, and director Ben Edwards does not seem to control the film's direction. In addition, the movie's lack of a story arc profoundly impairs its overall quality.

Few movies in any genre have dared to do away with a traditional plotline. Usually, there is always some connection between the events happening in the present and the dark secrets of the past. As a result, the film is structurally quite chaotic, with numerous disconnected events and characters. This is particularly apparent in the way the various family members are presented. They emerge in a confusing array of sequences that are even more disconnected than the family members.

The sparse winter trees and the dreary snow create a sense of foreboding, as if something terrible is about to happen. The film "Father of Flies" takes a while to get to its central mystery, spending a lot of time focusing on its characters and their oddball antics. This allows the viewer to get familiar with the film's atmospheric universe.

The desire to see what will happen in the future creates a type of anticipation that can be rewarding. The simplistic setting allows director Ben Edwards to produce tension in a crowded environment. At first, the filmmaker is willing to use fast-paced editing to blend the different parts of the story. However, the lack of ruthless editing eventually diminishes the overall atmosphere. The lack of freedom in the settings creates a sense of suffocation and claustrophobia, which is conspicuously absent from the final product.

It cannot be denied that 'Father of Flies' meets the expectations of a film of its caliber. Viewers must applaud Edwards for his bold attempt. Unfortunately, however well-intentioned it may be, the experience is rather underwhelming. The story's various elements don't fit together, making for a confusing and unengaging watch. Although scatterings of this material might be present, more is needed to draw your attention. For horror enthusiasts, however, it might have some redeeming qualities. More information and background could have helped Edwards and 'Father of Flies' become more successful.