Broken Bird – FirghtFest 2024 Movie Review
Director: Joanne Mitchell
Writer: Dominic Brunt (Screenplay)
Writer: Joanne Mitchell, Tracey Sheals (Story)
Cast
- Rebecca Calder (Hilma)
- James Fleet (Wolf Manor)
- Sacharissa Claxton (Avenue 5)
- Jay Taylor (Donkey Punch)
- Robyn Rainsford
Plot: Sybil works at an undertakers. It’s a lonely job, with few perks. So she takes solace where she can.
Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Broken Bird starts as we meet Sybil (Calder) an undertaker that gives her a chance to work in solitude. She has a particular routine to her day, mixing her reality with what she believes is real. Meanwhile, Detective Emma (Claxton) is finding her work-life balance becoming difficult after a crime hits closer to home.
As Sybil embraces her fantasies, Emma starts to believe she might have found the answers she requires. However, the two worlds collide to reveal a far more shocking truth.
Verdict on Broken Bird
Broken Bird is a horror movie which introduces us to a quirky woman working as an undertaker. She is trapped between reality and fantasy, which take over her life. Meanwhile, a detective searches for answers to a crime that hit a lot closer to home.
This movie takes the oddball horror to a new level as we see the two stories come together. Emma’s story is a lot more cut-and-dry detective tragedy. However, it is Sybil’s that takes centre stage, with a disturbing story that is unsettling throughout every scene. We never know what she is up to or what she will do next, which creates a new level of horror for the movie. Rebecca Calder is outstanding, giving us one of the more disturbing horror performances of the year. This is a horror waiting to burst from the seams and one that leaves you shocked.
Final Thoughts –Broken Bird is unsettling thanks to Rebecca Calder’s outstanding performance.
