Intertwining the deranged mind of Charles Manson with your everyday love story is a bold move. Director Remy Grillo brings the darkness to the fore, creating a powerful, engaging project.
★★★★✰
There aren’t many more twisted individuals to have walked this earth than Charles Manson, so for Grillo to tackle this story is a bold step. Manson and The Family wreaked havoc across California in the 1960s, with many likening them to a satanic cult. Young people from far and wide were sucked in to worship the diminutive, unassuming Manson as a god-like figure.
The Resurrection of Charles Manson is about a lot more than just the man who murdered Sharon Tate. It all begins with Tianna (Katherine Hughes), who is intent on landing the role of Annie, a Manson follower, in a film all about him. She and her boyfriend Mitch (Josh Plasse) travel out into the desert, to the middle of nowhere, to shoot an audition tape.
They may believe they’re alone out there but darker forces are at play, the symbol of an ouroboros—a snake eating itself—following Mitch wherever he goes. As the film that Tianna is auditioning for begins to come to life, the very fibres of their relationship are pushed to the limit.
Both Plasse and Hughes deliver strong performances in the lead roles, engaging the audience from the outset. Beyond them, the biggest name on the cast has to be Frank Grillo, the father of director Remy. Frank Grillo has an illustrious career to his name, including features in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring alongside Tom Hardy in 2011’s Warrior and as playing Nick Savrinn in the beloved series Prison Break. As the leader of the group, his portrayal of Manson as something of a deity truly hits home.
Everything to do with Charles Manson is at once revered, feared and taboo, and a lot of weighty themes are dealt with. Several juxtaposed images tie the central narrative to Manson and his actions. One example comes as a man (Will Peltz) listens to some rather chirpy music whilst languishing over the body of a beaten and bruised Mitch.
Grillo adheres to the basic code of a horror film, and then some. It isn’t initially obvious that this is going to be the genre, but as soon as a stranger darts past an open door behind a main character, viewers are put on the edge of their seats. A lot of standard horror tropes are played into—a silhouette looms by the window during the most intimate moment of the film—but they’re delivered excellently and effectively maintain the tension.
The score, too, is chilling, and the solitude of the houses in the desert setting lets the audience imagine what it would have been like when Manson and co were on the prowl.
The Verdict
Prior knowledge of Charles Manson and The Family serves as a huge bonus when watching this film. That being said, even without knowing any historical background The Resurrection of Charles Manson has a tight script, a perfect runtime, and excellent performances. Characters’ distress can be felt through the screen, and although Frank Grillo doesn’t feature all that much, his truly menacing aura makes him the star of the show.
Words by Jamie Rooke
The Resurrection of Charles Manson will be available to digitally download on May 29th.
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