By SHAWN MACOMBER
Directed by Richard Karpala and Gabriel Bienczycki
Written by Richard Karpala
Starring Shaun Duke Jr., Rene Leech and Andrew Gabriel
XYZ Films
In the hypnotic and immersive world of the supernatural thriller FALLING STARS, the existence of an empyreal coven of witches, who once a year individually zip down to Earth to collect herbs and goodies left out as tribute by mostly penitent humans on a holiday called First Harvest, is a given. It’s an unquestioned fact of life despite the lack of eyewitness accounts, outside of the cranks calling into a COAST TO COAST AM-esque radio show.
Well, unless you believe the quiet boast of Rob (Greg Poppa), a struggling new father and husband who told his buddy Mike (Shaun Duke Jr.) that he took down a witch out in Joshua Tree with a shotgun and a pair of night-vision goggles almost on a whim the year before. And he still remembers where the body is, too–kept like a buried treasure he hasn’t quite figured out how to monetize in a way that will lift him and his fledgling family out of the desert trailer life.
When Mike’s brothers Adam (Rene Leech) and Sal (Andrew Gabriel) catch wind of the tale, though, the trio cajole Rob into showing them the goods. It doesn’t take much effort. Before you can say, “Hey, you guys want to see a dead (witch) body?” the boys are trundling off into the desert darkness. There are, however, a few simple rules: No pictures, no relics, don’t hold your gaze on the corpse for more than a few minutes and no desecration of the body. (Yes, we are told, this includes urinating on it.)
Alas, accidents happen and when Adam spills a little beer on the dead ’n’ desiccated witch, a curse is unleashed. One of the group is instantly picked off and the others make a run for their lives, soon to learn that the hex is transferable to all with whom they come in contact. Ain’t no spoken spell or incantation that will save them, either. The only solution is to return to the scene of the crime and burn the witch’s body. (File under: Easier said than done.)
FALLING STARS is a beautiful film, both visually and thematically. The performances and world-building are topnotch and full of the necessary nuance to get us to suspend our disbelief. Directors Richard Karpala (who also scripted) and Gabriel Bienczycki sneak some cool, thought-provoking counterfactual history and philosophy into their mythology.
The movie also inverts traditional genre storytelling in which a doubtful or mocking populace is eventually confronted by a monster and has its worldview turned on its head. In FALLING STARS, we do not see a live and vengeful witch, only the aforementioned wizened corpse. The victims are there and then–poof!–gone. In some ways, this implied lightning-fast violence is more frightening, but horror fans should be aware going into the film that no practical creature effects clinic awaits them. This is a story about family dynamics and ambition and supernatural powers that are commonplace becoming suddenly and terrifyingly weaponized again fundamentally good people who make the mistake of breaking an esoteric covenant.
So, what do you think?
Still want to see a dead (witch) body?
