Failure! Review starring Ted Raimi
Spacebrain Entertainment

Ted Raimi has always kind of been “the other one.” I certainly don’t mean this in a derogatory sense, just that the spotlight has always been on his brother Sam Raimi or old pal Bruce Campbell. Ted Raimi has been the star of projects like Lunatics: A Love Story (1991) and Skinner (1993) but is best known for parts in films or TV shows directed and or produced by his family and friends from Michigan.

Aside from being the lovable goof Joxer on both Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, Raimi also made a mark on SeaQuest 2032, which ran for three seasons from 1993 to 1996. The man has a very distinguished and celebrated career, being a fan favorite to horror and sci-fi audiences around the world. To see him finally be offered an opportunity to step outside the genre and do something truly unique has been a long time coming, and it’s finally here. Failure! (2023) is a single-take thriller that’s a showcase for Rami’s talent like no other film or series has allowed.

James (Ted Raimi) is a middle-aged business owner who is drowning in debt, struggling to find a way to take care of his family and preserve a legacy that was started by his father. During a one-hour time frame, his life is about to be completely shattered when various people from his life (who may be real or not) stop to see him in his secluded home, pulling him in different directions. James has a difficult choice to make, which will alter his world and may ultimately end up in murder.

Director Alex Kahuam has crafted a brilliant thriller that’s tight and unpredictable. It allows Ted Raimi to really dig deep into a character. Filmed in a single 87-minute take, it cleverly shows the lengths a desperate man with nothing to lose will go for family, legacy, and even greed.

At first, I was a little jarred by the shakiness of the camera, but it eventually became part of what makes the film work. James is a fascinating character who walks in the grey area, and you will be constantly asking yourself if he’s good or bad. The amount of prep and planning must have been monumental. I’m hoping Failure! will get a physical release with plenty of bonus features since I’m very interested in learning more about the process of making this taut thriller.

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The cast also includes Melissa Diaz, Noel Douglas Orput, Daniel Kuhlman, and others whose characters may have minimal screen time, but each serves a purpose. They all play a part in James’ unraveling. Every performer, no matter how big or small the part was, contributes something memorable. Kahuam has done something really special with Failure! and Ted Raimi gives a powerhouse of a performance. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat, and it will take some time to shake the darkness you’ve just been dragged into.

Failure! has just made its world debut in the U.K. on August 28, 2023, at FrightFest.

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