Artik is a serial killer film with a comic book pedigree, written and directed by Tom Botchii.
The film centers on the titular killer, Artik (Jerry G. Angelo), who, along with his wife (Lauren Ashley Carter), uses a small group of children to find victims. His ultimate goal is never fully explained, but he seeks to create and unlock purity. He does this by torturing and testing victims. His twisted rituals are put in jeopardy when his with his chosen heir, Boy Adam (Gavin White), is befriended by straight-edge Holton (Chase Williamson). When Holton tells his Al-Anon sponsor (Matt Mercer) about his concerns for Boy Adam, a series of events lead Holton to Artik’s farm and to an action-packed conclusion.
While the titular character is reminiscent of Samuel L. Jackson’s Glass from the Unbreakable series, he seems much more horrific. While it can’t be said that Artik is more evil than Glass (who kills hundreds in his plot to find a superhero), his actions seem far more visceral and cult-ish. Jerry G. Angelo does an outstanding job of striking an imposing figure and making the killer seem like some sort of deranged messiah. He feels like he could leap out of the screen and into a comic series like Daredevil or Detective Comics. Lauren Ashley Carter’s portrayal of his equally demented wife is well-acted. She can go from simple but loving mother figure to wild savage in a heart beat. Though he has few lines, young Gavin White’s performance as Boy Adam is strong and he has a good presence in the film. Matt Mercer does an admirable job as Holton’s counselor friend. He’s able to talking using Al-Anon jargon and appear helpful, without being obnoxious about it. Finally, Chase Williams does an outstanding job as Holton. While we don’t know specific details about his character’s past, he does an amazing job presenting someone that’s witnessed the effects of a life out of control, has chosen to abstain from the person’s vice, yet ultimately found himself still broken.
Artik is a unique blend of genres. While there are no actual powers or masks, the killers constant reference to caped heroes will delight comic book fans. It’s definitely fun to try to recognize specific comics and characters in the various scenes. For horror fans, the film has some outstanding gore and torture scenes. Though it’s spread throughout the film, there’s enough blood to satisfy a devout gore hound. There are also just some beautiful and suspenseful shots (especially involving sunflowers).
It might not be a perfect film, but Artik is a dark film that will please fans of both serial killer films and comic book geeks. Artik hit select cinemas starting September 6th and will be available on Blu-Ray and On Demand September 10th.
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