Any film that starts by giving viewers a warning means business. Especially one like Astral’s:
“Whilst the events herein are fictionalised for the audience’s entertainment, the premise is very real. The filmmakers in no way condone any behaviour or actions that might endorse the undertaking of astral projection.”
It’s clear this ain’t no jump-scare paranormal junk, this is the real deal. Director Chris Mul and his brother and co-writer, Michael Mul, have been through/seen some weird and scary stuff while making this movie, and boy, does that make it an interesting watch.
Alex (Frank Dillane, Fear the Walking Dead) lost his mother as a child and has always struggled to come to terms with her death, causing a rift between him and his father. When he hears about astral projection from his professor, he thinks he might be able to connect with his mother and maybe even get some closure. But it ends up being way more complicated than he first thought, and Alex unearths things that should have stayed in the unknown.
There are plenty of movies based on true stories, but knowing the filmmakers themselves have been through the horrors they’re putting on-screen makes things unnerving on a whole new level. Adding into the mix lead Frank Dillane’s history of sleep paralysis, this movie almost merges the gap between fact and fiction.
The movie was shot in just twelve days with a low budget, and you can definitely tell this isn’t a Hollywood blockbuster. But that is in no way a bad thing, as this DIY element makes the movie a very real feeling, which is always a bonus with horrors/thrillers. It is beautifully shot, helped out by its setting of the stunning Royal Holloway University in London.
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The bright daylight and pitch black night create a brilliant contrast, playing on the idea that the dark indeed contains something to be feared, and the only thing that diminishes it is light. Alex becomes almost shadow-like in his dark room, which not only works atmospherically but also forewarns the horrors to come.
Astral‘s main group of friends is a pretty stereotypical bunch, which causes some cheesy and clunky dialogue at times, and the overly scientific conversations might alienate some of the audience, but this doesn’t take away from the film’s effect, and there are some thought-provoking quotes in the script, like the absolutely fantastic: “Normality is just an individual interpretation of reality.”
The Mul brothers’ decision to use practical effects instead of CGI definitely paid off, again making the film feel so real it’ll have you sleeping with the light on. Giving Dillane something actually there to react to make his reactions feel natural, which of course, adds to the horror.
Astral is an excellent addition to the genre, doing justice to its clear Hitchcockian influences. The movie’s few weaknesses are easily forgiven thanks to the great plot, exceptional attention to detail, and surprising twists.
Astral is now available on VOD and DVD.
