Movie Review: Replace (2017)

September 29, 2019

Written by DanXIII

Daniel XIII; the result of an arcane ritual involving a King Diamond album, a box of Count Chocula, and a copy of Swank magazine, is a screenwriter, director, producer, actor, artist, and reviewer of fright flicks…Who hates ya baby?

Kira Mabon (Rebecca Forsythe), has a lot on her mind; such as worrying about growing old, and wondering just where in the unholy fuck she is after waking up from a one night stand in some rando apartment that everyone tells her is her long-time residence. What the actual fuck gives?

Adding to her static is a neighbor (Lucie Aron) who professes her love for our heroine while trying to help her make sense of her newfound existence, and a Dr. Crober (genre legend Barbara “Re-Animator” Crampton) who treats her skin condition (think excessive peeling)… not that Kira can remember jack and/or shit about it… but let me tell ya, that Doc may be unnecessary as K-baby discovers that utilizing someone else’s skin (or that of a fresh stiff) can cure her condition right quick; so the body count begins to rise as apparently lookin’ good is more important than a nasty murder or twelve…

Co-writer (along with genius creator Richard Stanley… he of Hardware and Dust Devil fame)/Director Norbert Keil has created a putrid picture that is an unholy combo of body horror and Roger Corman flicks such as The Wasp Woman with an engaging, and slowly unfolding, mystery element in regards to Kira’s immediate past that will hold your arcane ass in a ghoulish grip front and center as well!

Speaking of Kira; Forsythe’s performance is pretty damn amazing, and she definitely commands attention throughout this dark thrill ride, as does Crampton in another strong turn… so the acting is top-shelf, but let me tall you cats n’ creeps the visuals is where Replace is tops!

This is one hell of a gruesomely gorgeous fright flick, overflowing with a diametrically opposed blend of chiaroscuro shadows and blazing vivid colors that create a hard yet aesthetically pleasing world that in turn contrasts with the beauty and malleable nature of the flesh. It’s a classic blending of the sterile and vividly alive and it makes this one a pleasure to behold with your eerie eyeballs!

So everything is awesome, right? Well… not exactly.

For one thing, the janky editing of this picture makes the proceedings incredibly difficult to follow at times; and while stylish AF, does little to tell a coherent story… and speaking of story; Replace‘s is a tad light and prone to fall prey to genre tropes… though the final twist is a doozy, and well worth sticking around for.

So while a smidge of a mixed beastly bag; Replace manages to be a stylish and entertaining arcane affair all things considered, and well worth puttin’ your putrid peepers upon!

 

 

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