Rent Far from the Apple Tree (2019)

Mad about Maddy - Far from the Apple Tree review by NP

This is directed by Grant McPhee, whose earlier ‘Night Kaleidoscope’ made such a virtue out of its very low budget. Although wildly different in mood and atmosphere, McPhee works his magic just as effectively for this story.

The acting – for much of the time a two-hander – is excellent. Sorcha Groundsell and Victoria Liddelle are wonderful as Judith and Roberta respectively. The supporting cast is equally fine. So good is this, it didn’t dawn on me until writing this review that there isn’t a single male character.

Like ‘Night Kaleidoscope’, this film stretches the boundaries of ‘horror’ as we know it; in a recent interview McPhee has said how he fails to see the point of emulating the style of much bigger budgeted productions and instead prefers to extol the virtues of more modest resources – and he does this admirably. His films possess an intimate, claustrophobic often trippy sense of unease, even in a sprawling, beautiful location such as this.

The much discussed Maddy is an interesting character, deliberately thinly sketched and therefore a mystery with dark undertones. To discuss this more would ruin the build up of what is a pretty slim, but compelling, storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed this vaguely Brontë -ish tale of melancholy and longing and eagerly await McPhee’s next project – surely one of the most interesting and innovative directors of recent years. 8 out of 10.

A low-budget film that punches above its weight - Far from the Apple Tree review by LC

In terms of plot, this is a modern spin on fairly familiar classic gothic horror - the isolated house and the secrets of it's forbidden room, a brooding matriach, the haunting presence of a dead woman whose aura is so inescapable she threatens to overwhelm the heroine (strong shades of Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca' here, among others). What elevates the film over its clearly low budget is that it's very artfully shot and edited, and the combination of visuals and music turn what could easily have been a bog-standard horror flick into something quite trippy and hypnotic. Recommended for those who appreciate more thoughtful and arty horror films.