Child abuse and neglect in the context of an adoptive family is all the more disturbing – and it is in this context that the brand-new horror film ARTIK attempts to reveal the dark undercurrent of a rural farm community.
Holton (Chase Williamson) is a recovering alcoholic who discovers a boy spraying graffiti on his farmyard building, who reveals himself to be known as Boy Adam (Gavin White). Holton takes a little pity on the boy and reveals that as part of his twelve-step programme of rehab he writes everything down in a book, which he encourages the boy to do so.
However, when Adam shows Holton some very dark illustrations, Holton decides to take action and speak to his counsellor about them, who in turn decides to visit the community where the boy’s family lives. Unfortunately, a dark discovery awaits the counsellor when he is greeted by Artik (Jerry G. Angelo) and Flin Brays (Lauren Ashley Carter)
Written and directed by Tom Botchii Skowronski, ARTIK taps into a lot of the horror staples that we’ve seen pretty much in films over the last two decades such as Eli Roth’s HOSTEL and WOLF CREEK, tempered with the likes of Sean Durkin’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, which focused on the effects of living in a cult in a more dramatic and subtle way.
There is also a sense of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE in here, although not to the degree of cannibalism that that horror classic prided itself on and, yet, the influence of the late Tobe Hooper’s original movie, as does most of the genuine legendary horror classics, remains as potent today as it was when it took its’ first bow in independent theatrical release back in 1974.
There is certainly a much more interesting film within ARTIK if the film-makers had chosen to focus more on the characterisation of the piece, because Gavin White’s performance is pretty focused and captures the essence of an impressionable child looking for a family unit to develop.
At times, ARTIK goes for the cheap exploitative thrill, albeit with highly effective gory make-up effects, here engineered by Michelle L Bolin and Roxy Traino (definitely two names to watch out for in the future!) and it is a shame that the effects overshadow the narrative and character development that is pretty solid for a horror film here.
Another name to continue to focus on is Lauren Ashley Carter, who stunned with her performance in the intriguing sci-fi drama IMITATION GIRL. Here she provides a solid performance as the matriarch of the farming cult opposite Angelo, who dominates the screen with his brutal overbearing role.
The film at times can be intense and is first and foremost for horror fans who have grown familiar with how the genre has evolved over the years, given that what was shocking back in 1978 with HALLOWEEN and 1980 with FRIDAY THE 13TH is relatively tame compared to what we often see these days.
The huge success of STEPHEN KING’S IT (CHAPTERS I and II) ensures much to look forward to, starting with DOCTOR SLEEP, the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to Kubrick’s THE SHINING.
To buy a copy of ARTIK, please click on the link here:
https://epic-pictures.com/merchandise/artik-blu-ray
