The Horror Show
Proxy
by Zack Parker
I would have to say that once in a blue moon I come across a movie that genuinely disturbs me. A few years ago, that movie was Human Centipede 2. That was the first movie, the first and only movie, that I actually questioned why I was watching it as I was watching it, but at the same time I couldn’t stop. I never thought I would find another movie as fucked up as that one. But I was wrong. Proxy was a genuinely disturbing film, not because of gore and violence, but because it was so believable.
Esther is an expecting mother within weeks of her due date; the day starts normally with a visit to her obstetrician. However, when walking to the bus, a hooded figure attacks her with a brick. She is rendered unconscious with the first blow and then is repeatedly beaten in the stomach. She loses the baby and doesn’t know anyone who would commit such an unspeakable act. Esther enrolls in a support group for women who have lost loved ones. There she meets Melanie, a woman who has lost her son and husband to a drunk driver. Esther develops a fixation with Melanie and things with Melanie don’t appear as they seem.
I have almost no idea how to talk about this movie with out giving away spoilers, so SPOILER ALERT. Everyone in this movie is totally out of their mind! From the beginning of the movie, I thought that it was odd that Esther didn’t react how a mother who just lost her child should act. Firstly, the attack seemed too deliberate. I mean sure her money was stolen but it was only after she was viciously beaten in her belly. It seemed like an after thought, just to make the attack seem random. Naturally, I suspected that Esther was some how involved. I just couldn’t figure out her motive though. Things didn’t come together until about half way through the movie. She didn’t want to be a mother; she just loved the attention that pregnancy brought her. Esther also asserted that Melanie was the same as her but I also had trouble figuring out her motive as well. We know that Melanie would pretend her family members were dead and go to support groups. She also liked to leave her son in the car while going places. She would scream that she lost him and then return to her car, bringing him back into the store like she found him outside. Once her son did die, I had assumed she might have seen the error of her ways. However, she would say fucked up stuff to her husband like, “We can always have another.” Her motives all made sense at the end of the movie, she WAS just like Esther. She enjoyed the attention of being a mother who lost those dear to her. You know what the most messed up part of this movie was? People like this really exist. There are crazy-ass people out there would do anything for attention and even exploit the death of their own children. That’s what makes this scary. There is nothing scarier than a dose of reality.
I noticed that there were some Hitchcockian elements to this film, and I saw that some other people noticed it too. I would say the biggest is the Psycho-esque plot twist. I don’t want to go too much into detail but if you watch Proxy and Psycho you’ll know what I’m talking about. Hitchcock also likes to take average people and throw them into dangerous situations. Proxy throws seemingly average people into dangerous situations that they are responsible for and they slowly unravel to reveal they are far from normal. Good ol’ Hitchcock also uses staircases as a way of communicating a sense of danger. In Proxy, a person going upstairs precedes all of the scenes where someone dies or is revealed to be dead. Even the final scene of the movie takes place on a staircase. I can say with absolute certainty that Proxy, beyond a doubt, has Alfred Hitchcock influences.
But holy crap, I was on the edge of my seat this entire movie. From the very first scene I was hooked. Normally, if I can even predict any part of a movie I lose some interest. However, Proxy found of way for me to predict what was going to happen but still kept me curious. I may be able to know what’s going to happen but I don’t know why it’s happening. Sometimes, the need to know why is almost as strong as the need to know what. It would throw mind-blowing twists that not even I could predict. I would actually shout, “What!?” at my computer screen. I honestly can’t remember the last time I as so absorbed in a movie.
The only cast member I could recognize from other movies was Joe Swanberg. I had trouble remembering him from some of his previous works, but he played cameraman in The Sacrament, older brother in You’re Next, and husband in V/H/S. I love seeing actors I recognize, it’s like the film is welcoming me with open arms. I wish I could say his role in this movie was memorable. He played a grieving father and husband well but it wasn’t particularly remarkable. Granted the movie wasn’t really about his character. It focused primarily on Esther and Melanie (played by Alexia Rasmussen and Alexa Havins). I have not seen one thing either actress had starred in before. However, they were great regardless. I feel like they each captured a bat-shit crazy woman perfectly. Crazy is subtle though. In reality, crazy isn’t the homeless man on the street. It’s that seemingly normal suburban mom. The one who doesn’t let everyone know how messed up she really is. That’s real crazy. These women first come off seemingly normal but then slowly reveal how absolutely insane they really are. I could not envision a different actress in either of these roles. I fell for the trick. I believed that these women were just victims. Then at the drop of a hat, they whip out the crazy.
I really loved this movie. Although, going into it I had no idea what to expect. This is what Netflix had to say about Proxy, “A series of revelations causes a shattered young woman who was assaulted during pregnancy to rethink her new relationships.” There is no way the person who wrote that summary actually watched this movie. I thought maybe Esther would give birth to the anti-christ or something. Then while watching this movie I assumed it would start off semi-realistic but take a supernatural turn about halfway through like Heartless and Citadel. I was glad it didn’t take that direction; both of the aforementioned movies started strong but as the unrealistic elements trickled in it just got weird and I lost interest. If I had to change one thing about Proxy, what would that be, you ask? Well I really can’t think of anything. I’m trying my hardest, but this movie really struck a chord with me. If you love absolutely messed up movies just watch it. Don’t even question me, do it already.
Billy Wayne Martin, HMS
The Horror Show Menu.