CHATTANOOGA FILM FESTIVAL 2022: THE LEECH

Cinepunx
by Justin Lore

One of the biggest problems with films that seek to push boundaries is that attempts to do so often come off as juvenile and tasteless, seemingly more interested in shocking the viewer as opposed to challenging them to engage with art they might find to be too much. Now, let me be clear: I am certainly in favor of being upset by a film to a degree. I believe that part of the joy in consuming horror films comes from that contained sense of having our world briefly thrown into disarray and allowing ourselves to immerse ourselves in the film to become fully engaged with what the characters are experiencing. Eric Pennycoff’s sophomore feature The Leech is certainly a film that seeks to make the skin crawl and induce an internal tightening at how awkward and uncomfortable it gets, and it is absolutely successful in doing so without resorting to shocking over the top theatrics.

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