INDIE MOVIE REVIEW FROM CINEQUEST: BIBI

 BIBI

In the gripping psychological thriller "Bibi," a grieving woman, consumed by her own demons, must confront a relentless stalker who blurs the boundaries between nightmare and reality, forcing her to question her sanity.

• Writer & Director: Christopher Beatty

• Producers: Christopher Beatty, Logan Hunter, Eddie Micallef, Glen Trotiner

• • Director of Photography: John W. Rutland

• Editor: Benjamin J Murray
  

• Stars: Elizabeth Paige, Judith Ann DiMinni, and Tammy Blanchard

• • Genre: Psychological Thriller

WHAT THIS MOVIE DOES WELL: The storytelling structure here is stellar. The way in which Christopher Beatty put us right in the middle of a tightrope trying to balance our way through a stroll across the mouth of the Grand Canyon is heartwrenching, and yet oddly exhilarating and riveting as well. One in which each step (scene) it feels like the rope is getting narrower and narrower and shakier and shakier underneath us too. 

There is so much to digest with the nice slow burns, incredibly interesting backstory, the neat reveals, and the internal POV of a descent into Madness, all layered with powerful hallucinations and strong metaphors that tilt the story as we wait for that one big misstep and fall into the abyss. The other impressive element is how this story seemingly tests what you know about genre, just when you think you might be watching a horror film it rips you out of that mode with these gorgeous landscapes and tauntry country club scenes. Just when you think you are watching a period drama, here comes Nancy (played by Tammy Blanchard) talking about the dance clubs and how she needs to get Vivian laid. All three main female actors in this film take turns tantalizingly playing with the text, adding subtext and emotion, and giving you some incredibly powerful moments. 

Each of them has their big moment but for me I really felt like Tammy Blanchard stole every scene she was in. Her psuedo black winged angel (not quite suited to be the white winged one mind you) and maybe just the lesser of 2 devils on Vivian's shoulder role is where often times we are plucked out of something drastically shifting and given a breathier with some levity and some ridculousness  that only Nancy can provide. Although there is one scene that I think changes everything and is handled beautifully by all 3 of these women who share the screen in only that moment. Elizabeth Paige is also amazing as Vivian. She is our POV, our conduit, and often though we can see beyond what she is experiencing, seiing, and feeling she does so well to keep us with her. I love how controlled she think she appears while always spiraling inside and letting it slowly leak out moment by moment. Judith Ann DiMinni has these amazingly powerful moments as well and plays who she is beautifully by keeping the teeter totter tipping up and down.  

The production design here is absolutely magnificent in how they make the house almost like a breathing character, a very old house has that already but its the interesting way in which certain things are able to do this or that like a door goesonly a certain way or the sound shifts depending on the angle or the time of day even. All of that adds just that much more to prod Vivian and in turn us. There is also some incredible symbols and trickets that matter so much in the details of what helps twist this story back and forth too. 

Beatty's directing style and working with both John Rutland as the DP and Benjamin Murray as the editor really set a tone. There is often where this feels like a period piece with bright sunspots and vibrant bright colors. Then they mute a tad to chill us or foreshadow something. Then they go all the way into a dreamscape or such a wildy toeing line of reality vs hallucination. This coupled with some nice pull out by the camera, a really great jump cut in a reveal moment that I think is so magically executed perfectly, and some amazing steady shots that also add layers to this amazing descent. It's design has a patience that the actors pick up on and utilize so that we can get into it quickly and stay there till the end. It's very nicely handled from Act one to the final act. 

WHY CHAMPION THIS MOVIE: There is a subtle perfectionist feel to everything we are watching.  It was all meticuslous, carefully placed, and very well executed. I would give you some movies it remind sme of but then I am robbing you of the experience to discover what the grand reveal is and I won't do that, ever. What I will say is the perfectionism leads the audience to what I feel is an Indie that defies its limits, while sometimes embracing them even more, and provides us with an incredibly well thought out plot structure and story that is well acted, well shot, and well edited. I think if you are a fan of Southern Gothic, slow burn thrillers that pay you off tenfold in the end, then you will really get a lot from this movie. 

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE MOVIE AND ITS JOURNEY HERE