One stormy night, a woman rushed to the hospital with her young child. On the trip there, her son acted strangely, as if he were no longer himself. As the woman arrives at the hospital, a mysterious figure appears in the distance, playing a flute and surrounded by rats. Suddenly, the woman’s son commits suicide.
Three weeks later, Liz (Elizabeth Hurley) and her daughter Amy (Mia Jenkins) arrive in Hamelin, Germany, new to town and looking for a fresh start. Their first stop is the Hamelin International School, where Amy will attend as a student and Liz will work as a full-time history teacher. As they settle into their rooms, they notice a giant statue of the famous Pied Piper of Hamelin, sparking Liz to reminisce about the legend of the piper ridding the town of rats. However, Amy seems more interested in getting Wi-Fi. During a campus tour, the two explore their new surroundings, including the large classrooms, which were once a prison building. Alone that evening, Amy clearly shows her mother she is unhappy with the new changes. Still, Liz reassures her that Amy obtaining a better education and Liz achieving a higher pay for teaching is ultimately the best outcome for both. Unfortunately, Amy’s first night in her new surroundings doesn’t go well. She can hear strange noises and suspects perhaps some kind of creature is lurking around. Even more unsettling, the next morning, Liz finds Amy in bed with blood on her. Despite their efforts to start anew, their new life only becomes stranger and eerier as Liz and Amy begin to uncover the dark and mysterious past of The Piper and the town itself.
The Piper is a horror film with some minor thrills. The main villain, The Piper, also introduces a vital element of fantasy to the storyline, particularly in the third and final act. The Piper was directed by Anthony Waller, who is no stranger to horror films. Some of his past works include An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) and Mute Witness (1995).
As the film’s first and second acts unfolded, I became increasingly curious and invested. The idea of a legendary Pied Piper haunting Hamelin was an excellent concept for a horror film. The movie is also informative for those who are not already familiar with the legend of the Pied Piper, even more so as the character Liz starts investigating the Piper out of historical interest.
While Liz delves into the origins and historical significance, her daughter Amy starts making discoveries about their new home, and it becomes clear that something disturbing is beginning. This includes Amy waking up from bad dreams, experiencing random bloody bites on her fingers, and finding strange markings on her body. The reason for these occurrences is a compelling mystery, and both leading characters go on different journeys as they conduct their investigations. Much of the story focuses on their relationship as mother and daughter.
The location and setting is excellent. The atmosphere was dark, gritty, and bleak, especially wherever The Piper lurks. Visually, The Piper is also great, but I wished his presence was more prominent. Instead, The Piper uses other methods to haunt and torment his victims, such as using rats.
The third and final act of the film felt more like a fantasy than a horror film, and it dragged on for too long. Several subplots slowed down the film and felt uninteresting compared to the main plot involving The Piper. This includes a new possible romance for Liz, who begins to take an interest in a man who lost his child to The Piper. This new romance and subplot also introduces a new mystery that slows down the film. In terms of performances, everything was okay. The musical score felt like it belonged in a midday TV movie, and while some musical themes were fitting, others felt repetitive, including the central theme for The Piper.
Overall, the idea of a horror film centred around the infamous Pied Piper holds strong potential. The Piper is a creepy spirit that targets those who have committed crimes and torments them by taking away their children. The film effectively establishes a dark, dismal setting, and the main characters are subjected to various strange horrors and mysteries that are introduced effectively. The performances are passable, and it’s nice to see actress Elizabeth Hurley back in the horror genre. As for the film’s soundtrack, I found it somewhat inconsistent, but it gave the impression of a midday TV movie. Although the film began with many intense moments, the biggest weakness was the introduction of multiple subplots that derailed the film’s main threat. Additionally, the story delved into the realm of fantasy, even more so in the final act. I wish the finale was more engaging and faster.
The Piper (2023) is now available on DVD & Digital in Australia & New Zealand!
5.1/10
16th November 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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