‘Faye’ VOD Review
Stars: Sarah Zanotti | Written by Sarah Zanotti, Kd Amond | Directed by Kd Amond
Faye Ryan, played by Sarah Zanotti (Rattled), is a successful self-help author who’s grieving the recent loss of her husband. She retreats to a secluded cabin, on the beautiful Louisiana bayou, to complete her latest book and work through the pain of bereavement only to discover something much more sinister at play. Tormented by the past and paralysed by grief, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more than just the past haunting her and Faye realises that she must confront her demons, both physical and phantom, if she hopes to move forward with her life…
Sarah Zanotti and director Kd Amond, who previously worked together on the indie horror Rattled, return for another small-scale horror, Faye, which follows the titular character and ONLY the titular character. For Faye is literally a one-woman horror movie, with actress Sarah Zanotti carrying the entire weight of the film on her shoulders, appearing on camera all the time and having to bear the burden of trying to tell the film’s story without bouncing her performance off anyone else…
Thankfully the duo, who wrote the film together, find ways to tell this story without resorting to ridiculousness. Faye talks to herself (actually more like talking to her dead husband), we hear telephone conversations, etc. However, the most interesting aspect of the film is seeing Faye break down her feelings in a one-woman show – sitting on a stage, directly talking to the camera/audience, bringing us into the mindset of Faye, exploring her thoughts and feelings outside the confines of the film itself and doing it in a very snarky, funny manner!
With Zanotti having co-written the film it’s clear she has a close tie to the script, almost as if Zanotti put a piece of herself in the film. Her performance is so natural, so nuanced, that it adds a depth to the film that might not have been possible if someone was learning the script rather than the way Zanotti seemingly lives it. It also helps that Zanotti is a wonderfully likeable actress, even a few minutes into the film you empathise with her character and you’re invested in just where Faye is taking us – both the film AND the character!
Of course, setting Faye in an isolated cabin can only mean one thing. After all, cabins in the middle of nowhere have NEVER spelt anything other than bad news for the characters in horror movies. And Faye is no different. Things start out slowly with books falling, and creepy sounds, but then escalates. However, there’s an interesting twist at play here too – how much of this is in Faye’s head? We know she’s struggling to cope with her loss and to pen her next book… Is that all this is? PTSD, stress and grief? Or is something more at work?
It might be the well-advertised one-woman, shot with a 5-person crew technical aspect that will reel you in, but it will be seeking answers to those questions that will make you stick around.
*** 3/5
Faye is out now on digital platforms from Reel 2 Reel Films.
