Popcorn Frights Film Festival Coverage
Sigil review
A relationship deteriorates with (and without) help from an accidentally summoned witch.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers
Sigil
Directed by Jacob Perrett
Written by Jacob Perrett and Rhiannon Schwindt
Starring Karlee Mihailov and Isabella Rodriguez
Sigil Review
A relationship hits the rocks when a witch comes promising happiness with a catch. Sigil knows that the destruction of a relationship is a hard sell. It leans further and further towards horror as the story unfolds. The two parts play together well enough to effectively mix the emotions of the story with a feeling of danger in the third act. Horror as metaphor is not a knew concept, of course. Sigil smartly applies it to elevate what could have otherwise been a more basic independent drama.
Moeve (Karlee Mihailov) is struggling. Her family has rejected her for coming out. Her girlfriend Bridget (Isabella Rodriguez) is supportive of her…but hasn’t had to deal with the same lack of familial love. The couple takes off for a vacation away from the world. When Moeve makes a wish near a strange carving on a tree she unwittingly unleashes a witch that promises to grant it. Of course…that comes with a cost.
Moeve’s wish is to feel the acceptance and love that she has been withheld from her. There is nothing malicious about it. She doesn’t know that her quiet request will lead to any consequences one way or another. This isn’t a story of deserved punishment. It is a story of the punishment that deeply unhappy people put themselves through. And, in this case, the people who love them.
At its core, Sigil is about a fracturing relationship falling apart completely. Instead of filling it with wall-to-wall conversations and fights…Sigil slowly builds a supernatural evil into the narrative. A witch (Casey Notarianni) appears outside of their rented home. She begins to corrupt Moeve with promises of happiness. The catch? She must kill the person she loves most.
The sabotage of a relationship by a depressed partner is a strong basis for a story. The slow deterioration of a person turned towards murdering that partner is even better. Metaphors are fun, aren’t they? Bridget tries to hold things together as Moeve slips away. She notices the depression…she notices the mental decline…she even notices how strangely Moeve acts when she thinks she is alone. Bridget’s problem is that she loves her. Attempting to salvage a dying relationship that is starting to turn dangerous is a genuine and grounded concept. Even as it’s showcasing horrific visions and a supernatural antagonist.
Sigil features two strong performances from Mihailov and Rodriguez. The early parts of the story require some heavy lifting due to a deliberately slow pace. The relationship is what matters most here. The story gives the characters plenty of time to establish themselves. It’s easy to see a very different movie unfold if they never happened upon that sigil. The relationship would still dissolve…it just wouldn’t have nearly as much fun in its third act.
With the first act of Sigil establishing the relationship between (and personal characteristics of) Moeve and Bridget…act two moves towards their impending destruction. This is where the witch begins to play her part. Moeve’s slow slip of sanity is highlighted by some fun horror moments. Talking to someone who isn’t there…a crazy vision after biting into an apple…increased despondence towards Bridget. Sigil uses its supernatural concept to show a more exciting journey towards a bloody destination.
The third act is where most of the fun is. It’s clear from an early stage in Sigil that this relationship is in trouble. Bridget even sees it earlier than you’d expect. With both an emotional climax to pay off and the promise of horror shenanigans to provide…Sigil builds to a terrific climax. There’s something here for people who enjoy true darkness in their movies…and for people who would like to see a more visceral version of a relationship dissolving story. The whole package runs a bit longer than necessary. Still, it saves the best for last.
Scare Value
Watching a relationship deteriorate doesn’t sound like a super fun basis for a film. Sigil knows that…so it layers in horror imagery and gore elements which are almost always fun. Performances are strong…metaphors are thick…a worthwhile watch is born.
