The journey from indie filmmaking to blockbuster success is a path traveled by cultural icons like Ryan Coogler, Rian Johnson, and Denis Villeneuve. Unfortunately, for emerging filmmakers Acoryé White and Patrycja Kepa, their venture into mainstream cinema with The Grove appears to suffer from a lack of direction. This film marks their third collaboration, following previous works like the supernatural horror film “Trinket Box”and the romantic drama short “Right Way to Love.”However, their progression as filmmakers seems to be stagnating.
Co-directed and co-written by White and Kepa, with White taking on the lead role, “The Grove”revolves around Black Ops soldier TJ. After returning home to his fiancée six months post an experimental enhancement procedure designed to bolster his combat abilities, TJ finds himself grappling with the consequences of forgetting his medication during a homecoming weekend trip with friends. As events unfold, tensions arise within the group, jeopardizing not only the festivities but also the wellbeing of those involved.
The Grove’s Story: A Lack of Substance
Most of the Film Feels Superfluous
The premise of “The Grove”hints at a captivating blend of body horror, psychological tension, and character exploration, but the execution falls flat. The narration only effectively delves into TJ’s psychological decline during the opening 15 minutes and the final half-hour—leaving a substantial void in between. Unfortunately, the depiction of his descent into madness lacks depth and provides minimal insight into the nature of the experimental procedure or the rationale behind his subsequent actions.
Perhaps one of the film’s most disheartening oversights is its lack of a satisfying conclusion. Instead of providing resolution, “The Grove”ends in a blatant setup for a sequel—a tactic that feels both misguided and frustrating, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
Adding to the film’s shortcomings, with a runtime of roughly 100 minutes, the narrative is burdened by extensive scenes of characters simply celebrating and arguing over personal relationships. These moments, which primarily showcase flirtation between characters despite established relationships, seem strangely disconnected from the film’s central conflict. The script suffers from a significant lack of structural integrity, rendering the characters—especially the female members of the ensemble—passive and primarily decorative.
Unappealing Visual Direction
Poor Execution of Visual Storytelling
Beyond narrative issues, “The Grove”is marred by a visually uninspired direction. The filmmakers attempt to introduce stylistic flourishes like hazy vignetting and Steadicam shots but predominantly achieve a jarring contrast that detracts from the overall aesthetic. Many sequences appear poorly composed, leading viewers to question both their necessity and quality.
A particularly egregious example occurs in the film’s climax, where characters flee through a darkened forest, trying to evade TJ’s violence. The decision to minimize lighting, reminiscent of the original “Blair Witch Project,”results in a murky visual experience that compromises the action’s clarity, disconnecting viewers from the on-screen drama.
The Cast’s Performances Fall Short
White’s Performance Offers Little Engagement
Compounding its issues, “The Grove”features a cast that delivers underwhelming performances, making it even more challenging to engage with the film. The actors, bound by a weak script, fail to elevate their characters, reinforcing a reliance on stereotypes and shallow representations.
White, in particular, struggles to bring charisma or emotional depth to his role, drawing unfortunate comparisons to infamous filmmaker Tommy Wiseau. While Wiseau garnered a cult following for his unconventional approach, “The Grove”lacks the needed allure to inspire similar interest. Instead of feeling accidentally entertaining, it comes across as a tiresome ordeal.
“The Grove”is set for release in theaters on April 4.