John Hawkins (Allan Hawco) is the Police Chief in a small town known as Lone Crow. Only days from retirement and planning to move into the city, John must tackle one last case when a family picnicking near a lake discovers a mutilated body. John is instantly called to the scene to investigate. The dead body is unlike anything John has ever seen in his entire police career, and the bones have even vanished from the victim’s body. With only a few clues to work from, John finds the victim’s name- Cole Parsons- and that he owned a house located deep in the woods.
John assembles a small team, including Officer Jacob (Wesley French) and John’s ex-girlfriend Meg (Emily Alatalo), who not only knows the woods well but can also provide a boat to travel to Cole’s home. Meg has also had past dealings with Cole and knows his home’s location. When John and Meg meet up, things are tense between the two, and we discover John will not only be leaving Lone Crow but also Meg. Nevertheless, the three journey by boat and arrive at Cole’s house. There they discover more strange and baffling mysteries. The place looks old and abandoned, and incredibly messy. More concerning is a large machine located in the attic.
For those unaware, The Breach is based on an Audible Original story by Nick Cutter. The storyline for The Breach felt like John Carpenter and H.P. Lovecraft sat down for a coffee and created this story together. The plot is mysterious and contains questionable elements that intrigue viewers to find the answers along with the leads. There’s also a fun aspect of body horror and fun use of practical effects along the way, which were highly appreciated. The pacing starts wonderfully, and it’s impossible not to be curious once our leads arrive at the house. However, the pacing slows down as they begin to investigate once they arrive at the mysterious home. Granted, there’s still a fun atmosphere at play, and once the pacing slows down, it’s evident the film is building to something larger. By the third act, that payoff is rewarding and fun.
Those who adore all things relating to rock music will be excited to know that The Breach’s opening theme song includes work from artist Slash (from Guns N’ Roses) and Aybars Altay. The excellent theme song alone sets the tone and atmosphere wonderfully. The musical score is a significant highlight, providing suitable themes and vibes for the entire duration. The filming style is pleasant, and I admired a few moments along the way, such as fun angles and creative shots.
While mostly playful and fun, performances contained some lines of dialogue that didn’t quite work for me. Some character choices also seem a little baffling and uncertain of themselves. A classic example is that characters are often alone and make poor choices while others will be off doing their own things- a predictable recipe for problems. At best, I enjoyed seeing Allan Hawco as the lead, and he reminded me of actor Nathan Fillion with his sense of fun, charm, and confidence mixed in with a touch of seriousness.
Overall, those who enjoy films from the likes of John Carpenter or anything in the style of H.P. Lovecraft will find many aspects of The Breach enjoyable and satisfying. It’s a fun story that begins instantly with various elements of mystery and well-executed body horror. The score by the legendary Slash gives the feature a solid ambience. The only minor weakness is the pacing, which sometimes feels slow, along with some line delivery that can feel poor or unfitting. Thankfully the elements all stew together for a great conclusion. Horror fanatics will be guaranteed to walk away from this feeling some form of contentment.
THE BREACH hits DVD/VOD in the UK & Ireland on July 10th and VOD in Australia and New Zealand on July 12th!
6.2/10
4th July 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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