Falling Stars is an American Folk horror film directed by Gabriel Biencicky and Richard Karpala, and the cast includes Greg Poppa, Rene Leech, Piotr Adamczyk, Rene Leech, Orianna Milne, Shaun Duke Jr, Andrew Gabriel, J. Aaron Boykin and Diane Worman.
And yes, I am counting this as a 2024 movie, as while it got released in 2023 at festivals, it got its theatrical release in 2024 and is currently available to stream.
The film centers on three brothers in the American West who embark on a journey to find a buried witch on the night of the first harvest, a night that is steeped in superstition.
When they accidentally disturb her grave, they set off a chain of terrifying events, forcing them into a race to stop a curse that threatens not only themselves but their entire family.
Much like in films such as When Evil Lurks, the characters bring depth and tension to the story, each adding layers of urgency and fear as they attempt to stop something bad happening.
Rob (Greg Poppa), is a man who finds himself caught in all of the horror alongside his wife, Meg (Orianna Milne), and along with Rob’s friend Mike (Sean Duke Jr), and Mike’s younger brothers, as they uncover the dangers of this supernatural world.
Oh, and we also have a mysterious radio host named Barry (J. Aaron Boykin) delivering cryptic warnings.
The visuals and storytelling techniques in Falling Stars is wonderful, as it opens with a chilling sequence of a woman disappearing after seeing a shooting star.
The film quickly establishes an atmosphere where every small action could have profound supernatural consequences.
The use of a radio broadcast that speaks to the events adds an insight into the supernatural forces at play, and helps create that real sense of dread and urgency without ever feeling over done.
From the rituals and traditions to the ominous rules that must be followed, Falling Stars paints a world where witches and curses feel all too real.
The film’s pacing keeps the tension high as well, as you follow the characters’ efforts to undo their mistake before the curse takes hold, with each scene providing new insights into the brothers' bond and their fear of the unknown.
Falling Stars isn’t about the jump scares, instead, it’s a story of curiosity and the consequences that follow, as the movie creates a steady sense of dread for those watching.
Throughout Falling Stars, we witness Biencicky and Karpala blend suspense with horror in a way that is really well done, and will keep you guessing, and have crafted a world where we really believe what is happening as we watch and hope for the best.
It’s a fairly fresh take on supernatural horror, packing lots of suspense, and for me, falling Stars is a bit of a hidden gem in horror this year, along with Lowlifes.
I highly recommend Falling Stars, it probably won't be for everyone, but is a film that deserves a lot of praise in my opinion, and with a runtime of 80 minutes, the film doesn't go on for too long either, which is always nice. (Hello, Smile 2).
I would rate this film 75% on my horror movie nerd-o-meter.
[Falling Stars on IMDB] [Where to watch Falling Stars]
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