Written and directed by Nick Gregorio, Old Strangers sees three old friends reconnecting after a long time, only to discover a terrible secret that may put their lives in grave danger. Ted Evans, Nick Gregorio and Madeleine Humpfries star in the sci-fi horror available digitally starting January 11, 2022.
Right off the bat, the film has an aura of mystery around it that unravels slowly and gradually into something shocking by the end. Gregorio balances the character drama with the central mystery perfectly, ensuring that the film feels satisfying by the end. The science fiction elements of the story are fleshed out and the whole adventure unravels organically, which leads credence to the story being told. The acting is better than most of the similarly budgeted features out there and the cast does well with the script provided.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this feature is its cinematography. From dark colorful hues of the interior to crisp cinematic shots of the outdoors, the film truly transports the audience to the snow-capped mountains of North America where mystery, intrigue and horror await the protagonists. The sound mixing is another aspect of the production that gets full marks; enveloping the audience into the surreal experience of being faced with sheer terror in a hostile landscape. The character interactions in the quiet interior of the cabin have much life as a frantic chase in the wilderness and all this is courtesy of the fantastic sound editing that makes the experience truly come alive.
Old Strangers takes a while to get off the ground but once it does, it soars. The acting is great, the locations are fantastic and the narrative at the center of the story is compelling. Gregorio writes, directs and stars in the film and he manages to pull off the triple duty with flying colors. Anchored by great performances and a solid script, Old Strangers is a damn good time at the movies.
3.0 / 4.0 stars
