Frightfest 2022: ‘The Leech’ Review
Stars: Graham Skipper, Jeremy Gardner, Taylor Zaudtke, Rigo Garay | Written and Directed by Eric Pennycoff
Father David (Graham Skipper) is a devout priest who lives by the bible’s doctrine to be a Good Samaritan at all times. So he is more than happy to welcome a struggling homeless couple Terry and Lexi, played by Jeremy Gardner and Taylor Zaudtke respectively, into his house during the season of goodwill. But what begins as a simple act of kindness and Christmas charity quickly becomes the ultimate test of faith once the sanctity of his home is jeopardised…
Sadistic Intentions writer-director Eric Pennycoff returns with actor Jeremy Gardner for The Leech, which could easily have been titled Good Intentions – for that’s what our lead character Father David has but – of course – there are those in the world who would prey on people’s goodwill and that’s certainly the case here. However we’re also in genre film territory so you just KNOW there has to be some kind of comeuppance for Terry and Lexi, some kind of “revenge” born out on them – even by someone who seems as meek and mild as Father David.
And that’s the issue. There’s nowhere for this film to go.
It’s clear from the outset that Terry, and by extension Lexi, are grifters who are in it for themselves and see Skipper’s Father David as something, or someone, of a weak target and, given that The Leech follows the tropes and cliches audiences have seen time and time again, we know Father David is eventually going to snap. It’s an age-old tale that, when done right, can give us GREAT movies – especially when the lead is an everyman driven to the brink by people or circumstances he can’t control… Death Wish anyone? But The Leech is far too small-scale, too self-contained for that all-too-familiar trope to play out in any way other than the expected.
This means it’s down to the performances to hold the audience’s attention. Good job then that The Leech has Graham Skipper in the lead role and Jeremy Gardner as his antagonist. Though unfortunately for the latter his character is written in such a way that you can’t appreciate Gardener’s performance – you detest Terry that much. Which, to be fair, is a credit to both Gardener and Eric Pennycoff’s script! Meanwhile, Skipper plays Father David as somewhat of a broken man, a man whose faith has been challenged and a man who constantly feels like he’s teetering on the edge of a breakdown – both mentally and spiritually.
And it’s THAT performance that will keep you watching. Watching to see just how and when Father David will break, watching to see when he will exact some sort of biblical vengeance on Terry and Lexi. Because we all know you and I would…
**½ 2.5/5
The Leech screened as part of this year’s Arrow Video London Frightfest.
