The other night I saw the 2018 film, Apostle. It’s a gothic horror film that knows how to takes its time and set up the world. The film is directed, written, and edited by Gareth Evans. The film takes place in 1905 where Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) travels to an island where a cult headed by Malcolm Howe (Michael Sheen) is holding his sister, Jennifer (Elen Rhys) hostage.
What I really appreciate is how Gareth Evans crafts this worlds cult. It feels real. They have developed rituals, literagy, and general practice. I know it’s not for everyone to have a slower pace before the horror takes place, but in gothic media, this is to be expected.
The acting was solid, the lighting was good, the cinematography strong. The music is appropriate for the film and does a good job of setting the mood. There is some gore towards the end, so if that’s not your thing, be warned.
The cast has a good chemistry and the pre-established relationships in the cult feel real. It does seem as though these people have known each other for a while. When Thomas enters the cult, he does a pretty good job of hidding himself at the get go. Relationships form and how they develop is interesting.
If slow burn horror is your thing, hot diggity! Have I got a movie for you. I hate when films rush stuff without proper set up, and this film does know how to set itself up. I know it got a little buzz when it first came out, but if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s still worth the watch.
Apostle Movie Review is marked with CC0 1.0 
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