SELF-HELP

***

Directed by Erik Bloomquist.

Starring Landry Bender, Jake Weber, Amy Hargreaves.

Horror, US, 86 minutes.

Reviewed as part of FrightFest 2025 - International Premiere

After a shocking incident in her childhood, Oliivia has been estranged from her mother. Now in college, Olivia is roped in by her friend Sophie who decides to look into a self-actualisation group at a remote country retreat. Much to Olivia’s surprise however, she discovers that the group's charismatic and demanding leader Curtis, is romantically involved with Olivia’s mother and may have sinister designs on manipulating the rest of his devoted acolytes.

Following the slasher stylings of his previous film FOUNDERS DAY, Erik Bloomquist, who also co-writes with his brother Carson and co-stars here, shifts into more psychological territory. The low budget and limited location, despite an impressively realised prologue set in a vintage pizza parlour, may result in a slightly low-key visual style but this is made up for in spades with impressively realised character work, both on the script and from the actors. Jake Weber in particular as the shady Curtis gives extra dimensions and shades to what could have been a one-note evil villain, while Landry Bender as Olivia also does well with the surprising and satisfying turns her character takes.

Despite a couple of shocking, and wickedly amusing images, SELF-HELP can at times feel very safe.  However the plot rolls along at such a pace, resulting in an easy to watch film that pleasantly surprises the viewer with its top notch character work, particularly in regards to the supporting cast in a surprisingly touching final act.

Iain MacLeod