There’s No Hope For You

I’ve been a fan of Alexandre Aja ever since my first viewing of his 2003 film High Tension. Since that release, he had directed four more full-length films and I’ve made it a point to watch every single one of them. There is no doubt he does fabulous work with every project and his newest film, Horns, is no different.

Ignatius Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter series) is suspected of killing his former girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple, Killer Joe). After a night of bad choices, he wakes up to find horns sprouting from his forehead. As it turns out, these horns cause everyone around him to confess their deepest and most personal secrets. Ig embraces this new-found ability and uses it to his advantage, aiding in his search for the truth and who really killed the love of his life.

I remember reading a few articles online years back about a project being directed by Alexandre Aja, which was based on a novel created by Joe Hill, an author who just happens to be the son of iconic writer Stephen King. The fact that these two men were attached to the film were all that I needed to know for me to make up my mind that I needed to see it upon its completion and eventual release. In fear of ruining the film experience for myself by spoiling the climax, I never got my hands on a copy of the book and I really didn’t look further into the story’s plot. My interest continued to increase little by little, however, as photos leaked online of Daniel Radcliffe sporting the titular horns. Could the actor who the world has seen grow up on screen as Harry Potter really be a good fit for a genre film directed by the man who made the The Hills Have Eyes remake and Piranha 3D? As it turns out, the answer quite simply is yes.

Daniel Radcliffe leads an ensemble cast full of some wonderful talent. All roles, no matter how significant, were cast perfectly. Juno Temple was great as [everyone’s] love interest, Merrin, David Morse was moving as a father who has lost his little girl, and Joe Anderson (The Ruins, The Crazies) did an awesome job as the lost soul, musician, Terry Perrish, just to name a few. The characters were dark and funny all at once, making Horns seem strange at times, but always entertaining.

While the majority of effects are seen only in Iggy’s horns throughout the film, the third act really shows the true strengths of the awesome folks at KNB EFX Group. From the sculpt of the ever-growing horns to the more gory stuff, which I won’t spoil for you guys, all of the film’s effects looked amazing. Anyone who knows the caliber of work put out by the guys at KNB, know exactly what to expect when their name is attached to a film and will not be disappointed here.

Horns is a genre-blending film that takes its cues from everything including body horror, romantic dramas, and murder mysteries. It has something for everyone, but is sure to stick out above any other genre film out there today. It is a beautiful love story, while also maintaining a violent, revenge-fueled thriller atmosphere.

Pick up a copy of Horns on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay today and see for yourself! Let me know what you think of the film in the comments below.

I give this film 4 cherry bombs out of 5.