Movie Review: ‘The Grove’ – Supersoldiers, Sacrifice, and an Eerie Get Away.

Everyone appreciates a good sci-fi/horror mix or, at the very least, the effort it takes to spin a narrative that effectively blends these two elements, which could otherwise exist independently.

‘The Grove‘, co-written and co-directed by Acoryé White and Patrycja Kepa, attempts to merge the psychological horror of a soldier’s unravelling mind with the dangerous implications of experimental science.

The film’s synopsis, more than its title, reveals its sci-fi and psychological horror elements. The feature tells the story of Terrance (played by Acoryé White), a Black Ops soldier who undergoes an experiment designed to create a super soldier. After the procedure, he returns home to spend time with his fiancée, Alice (played by Psalms). Hoping for a brief escape from reality, they embark on a weekend trip to a lake house with friends. However, things take a tragic turn when Terrance stops taking his medication, leading to some undesirable side effects with fatal consequences.

Upon Terrance’s return home, Alice is visibly overjoyed to see him. But even in these early moments, it is clear his secret is weighing on him and he tries to open up to her. But this doesn’t happen till they agree to a trip with their friends, Chris and Imani (played by Guxci). However, the dynamic takes an unexpected turn when Imani invites additional guests to join them at the cabin. This extended group brings tension, jealousy, and drama, which further complicates an already delicate situation.

The film’s writing does a commendable job of setting up character dynamics and backstories to add layers to the tension. However, in my opinion, these backstories are not fully explored, leaving certain characters and their motivations feeling underdeveloped.

The narrative also keeps Terrance’s connection to the experiment fresh in the narrative through the character Dr. Jane (played by Haely Sims). As Terrance‘s handler, she appears too engrossed in ensuring the success of their super soldier experiment, showing little concern for potential dangers. She tries her best to control him and even instructs him to avoid drinking alcohol for a month but rather a special ‘organic’ drink that is supposed to help with the side effects of the experiment. But as you would expect, things don’t go as instructed at the cabin and Terrance accidentally drinks alcohol.

Beneath its horror and sci-fi elements, ‘The Grove‘ subtly captures the sacrifices that many men are willing to make for their loved ones, often with the intent of securing a better future. Terrance knowingly volunteers for the experiment knowing the financial benefits that could set up both himself and Alice as they prepare to start their life together.

However, he still makes this decision without involving Alice and this highlights the personal cost of such sacrifices. Additionally, we see that Terrance is also looking out for his friend Chris (played by Carl Anthony Payne II), a retired soldier struggling with several failed investments. Even in a heated argument about money, it’s evident that Terrance genuinely cares for Chris and his well-being.

Acoryé White delivers a decent performance as the film’s lead. Given that he co-wrote and co-directed the film, it’s clear that he understands the intricacies of Terrance’s character. His portrayal captures a fair range of emotions, though at times it feels like there’s room for more depth in conveying his internal turmoil. Carl Anthony Payne II on the other hand brings a touch of humor to the film through Chris. Fortunately, he keeps it measured, ensuring that the comedic moments don’t disrupt the overall tone. However, there are a few performances in the film that feel less polished, likely due to the inexperience of some of the cast.

Narratively, the film unfolds as a slow burn, with events steadily building tension. However, when the story finally reaches its boiling point, the payoff feels somewhat short-lived. Several scenes drag on longer than necessary, contributing little to the overall narrative besides extending the film’s runtime to 1 hour and 49 minutes. There are only a few minutes towards the end of the film that captures its true vision whilst setting things up for a potential sequel.

On the technical front, the visual and special effects play a crucial role in cementing the film’s genre classification as a mix of horror, mystery, and thriller elements. While the VFX may not be groundbreaking, they are decent for an indie production. They contributed a lot to achieving the eerie aesthetic the filmmakers aimed for.

The cinematography in ‘The Grove‘ is fairly standard, with a mix of handheld shots for immersion and steadicam work for smoother sequences. However, some scenes suffer from being overly dark. While the intention was likely to enhance the film’s horror elements, I feel better lighting techniques and shadow play could have achieved the same effect more effectively without compromising visibility.

I would say ‘The Grove‘ is an ambitious attempt at blending sci-fi and horror, tackling themes of sacrifice, transformation, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding human experimentation. I will score it 6.5/10 as it is an interesting indie effort that genre fans might find engaging.

The film itself feels like an experiment that almost missed its mark. Hopefully, it is not just teasing a sequel that never gets made.