As a young girl, Wei often completed her schoolwork while her father conducted various scientific experiments. One of these experiments aimed to address a significant birthmark on Wei’s face. However, when her father’s latest creation was tested, the consequences were unsuccessful, distracting and bloody.
Now a grown-up, Wei (Joyena Sun), like her father, enjoys working on her various experiments and has a passion for science, especially when it comes to bugs and insects. Her hard work has paid off, and she has recently been accepted for a scholarship at University West. Packing up her belongings, she moves in with her Aunty Ling (Xiao Hu), who works in the beauty products industry, and her cousin Angela (Jess Hong), who is already attending the same university.
As Wei settles in, she feels renewed energy, particularly regarding her relationship with Angela. Angela is beautiful and quite popular, with a strong circle of friends. In contrast, Wei is shyer and more focused on her scientific interests, which Angela and her peers often dismiss, leading some to label her as a kind of ‘monster’.
Once at university, Wei excels academically, to the point where Dr. Paul (Jared Turner) invites her to work in the university labs after hours. She sees this opportunity as the perfect chance to refine and complete her father’s work, which involves repairing and altering skin for the greater good. However, Wei faces numerous challenges, including the potential jeopardy of her father’s long-term work, along with unexpected twists and monstrous developments along the way.
Grafted is a horror film and those who enjoy body horror and titles like The Substance or The Fly will resonate with this movie. The film was directed by Sasha Rainbow, whose previous work includes a short film titled Kamali, released in 2019. So, how does Grafted establish itself as Rainbow’s directorial debut for a feature-length horror film? In my opinion, it’s quite brilliant.
Although the film takes a while to get started, once the main story and concept were introduced, I was engaged by the rollercoaster storyline. The film features many twists and turns. While some reveals were predictable, I still had a great time watching everything unfold. There are impressive efforts, gruesome kills, and remarkable body horror. The dialogue varies among the characters. Some characters, such as the lead, are well-written, while many side characters can be cheesy. However, this is forgivable and acceptable, considering it’s a playful horror film.
The film’s sound effects are a significant delight, and several moments are either gross or uncomfortable to see on-screen, which is the film’s strength. The soundtrack by Lachlan Anderson is excellent, adding a nice, unsettling, eerie tone. Visually, I’m pleased to share that I felt Sasha Rainbow’s work was terrific, and her style would most certainly be welcomed if she were to tackle another horror film in due time.
There are issues, besides the fact that some aspects are predictable, some characters feel overly familiar, and the final moments felt like a missed opportunity and were less impactful than I hoped. But again, given that it’s a horror film, this opinion will likely vary among film buffs.
Overall, Grafted, directed by Sasha Rainbow, is an impressive horror film. Although it takes some time to get going, the concept is excellent, and I found myself captivated as the story unfolded. The film features plenty of outstanding body horror moments for fans, along with fantastic sound design and an eerie soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. While some side characters and dialogue feel a bit cheesy, I still found the experience enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. If you’ve already watched The Substance, it’s time to check out Grafted.
Grafted (2024) is available in Australian Cinemas starting November 21st!
FILM SCORE: 7.3/10
Published: 16th November 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
CONNECT WITH PETER WALKDEN:
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@walkdenentertainment / @walkdenpublicity
FOLLOW US ON LETTERBOXD:
@Peter_Walkden
0 Comments