The Horror Show
Honeymoon
by Leigh Janiak
Being a Game of Thrones fan, I was excited when I heard that the red-headed wildling Ygritte (Rose Leslie) was the leading lady in an indie horror film.
That’s not true, it was annoying, but the film was actually okay.
Honeymoon, as I'm sure you can guess by the title, focuses on Bea and Paul, two newlyweds, madly in love with one another, on their honeymoon. They have decided to get some well-deserved alone time by escaping to the woods and staying in Bea's family's cabin.
This movie isn't what you'd initially expect though. I know what you're thinking...oh, a cabin in the woods, two young lovers, I know where this is going... But you'd be wrong on your initial expectations of this film. The first 30 minutes or so of this movie is extremely slow, but I found it bearable because of the on-screen chemistry of Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway. The silly back and forth banter is realistic, the dialogue is believable, and they truly are the perfect, most adorable couple you'll be able to find in a movie these days. So my advice is to sit tight through the slow and drawn out beginning, because the movie does pick up, and it gets awesome.
It starts off with strange lights in the forest, and you get the idea that our newlyweds are being watched. Bea and Paul run into an old childhood friend of Bea's and then things start getting really strange. Later that evening, Paul wakes up to an empty spot where Bea should be sleeping, and in a panic, goes looking for her. He finds her, naked and seemingly sleep-walking in the woods. Something odd and traumatic has happened to Bea....but it isn't until later that we find out just what happened in those woods.
Bea, once completely enamored with Paul, is suddenly withdrawn and acting rather strangely...forgetting what certain words mean, forgetting details of their near-perfect relationship, and opposed to having sex with her husband.
I'm sure you can now guess where this movie might be going. And I thought it was awesome. While it's been done before, and it really does have an "Invasion of The Body Snatchers" feel to it in some parts, the plot was executed well and the writing was brilliant. I said it before, and I'll say it again, Leslie and Treadaway were perfect, and I feel that if anyone else were cast in either of their roles, the movie would not have been as great.
The mystery, although easy to figure out once Bea is found in the woods, is great and the creepy atmosphere of the secluded cabin is a fantastic addition to the overall despair that Paul is feeling. The real human emotion is what stands out in this film. Horror films are often filled with stupid people making stupid decisions, but in the case of Honeymoon, the stupid decisions that Paul makes are warranted and serve a purpose. He loves his wife, he doesn't understand what's going on, and he wants to be there for her.
If you're looking for a horror movie with some mystery, some depth, and some superb acting, then Honeymoon is for you.
Stevie Kopas, HMS
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