Chattanooga Film Festival Coverage
The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine review.
A fresh take on the last man on earth story, The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine is a real treat.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers.
The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine
Directed by Graham Skipper
Written by Graham Skipper
Starring Paul Guyet, Christina Bennett Lind and Graham Skipper
The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine Review
As far as post-apocalyptic movies largely featuring one character go…The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine is a real winner. Admittedly, I am unsure of how large this specific sub-genre of movies actually is…but part of this movie’s appeal as that it feels like it comes from a familiar idea while presenting something totally fresh.
Wozzek (Graham Skipper) is the last man on earth…but he isn’t alone. Setting aside his science project that intends to resurrect his late wife…there is also the small matter of the stranger who visits his door every night. The machine used to bring back his wife is yielding promising results. There being someone outside talking to him, however, is probably a cause for alarm
The world in The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine came crashing to a halt when a race of strange creatures began, well, eating people. When we catch up with Wozzek and his unique experiment…everyone else has been eaten. He is alone…aside of brief appearances from his wife Nellie (Christina Bennett Lind). At the beginning of the story, Nellie can do little more than stand still staring blankly ahead. She can’t talk or even show signs of any ability to respond. The tests are simple enough…sit in that chair. Show me any sign that you can hear me. As frustrating as the progress might be for Wozzek…what else is there to do?
The daytime is safe to head outside to forage. The creatures come out at midnight. Which makes the arrival of a stranger gently wrapping upon Wozzek’s door all the more concerning. We, like Wozzek himself, are probably right to assume what is on the other side of that door. Despite his threats to do so, Wozzek never gets up to look at what is on the other side. Instead, he finds himself conversing with a strange, though seemingly friendly stranger with a hypnotizing voice and his own desire for companionship.
Although The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine is about the torment of an isolated man…it manages to remain vibrant and engaging from beginning to end. Skipper, who also serves as writer and director, gives a terrific performance. Whether he is interacting with a person who can’t respond or a strange voice coming from someone/thing he can’t see…his performance never lets his time alone on screen feel slow or meandering.
The event that led to the end of the world is called “The Calamity”. The skies turned purple, and creatures devoured the world. Wozzek and Nellie fled to a cabin in the woods. This cabin is the sole location used in The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine. It’s a credit to Skipper’s writing/directing/acting that the setting never wears out its welcome. It pulls off the great trick of effectively trapping the story as it narratively should but remaining an interesting location to watch throughout the movie.
When Wozzek’s experiment begins to yield increasingly positive results The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine takes on a bit of a dreamlike quality. There is emotional resonance in the scientific advancements. An isolated man gaining the ability to interact with his dead wife is a strong dramatic throughline.
What elevates The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine from interesting indie work to must see sci-fi horror film is the surprising choices made in the film’s third act. We will leave that for you to discover…but it examines some extremely interesting ideas. There is a fascinating ending. It follows up an even more interesting scene centered around the stranger at the door entering Wozzek’s cabin. This is one to go out of your way to see.
Scare Value
The Lonely Man with the Ghost Machine does a great job building its world despite trapping you inside of a cabin with its (nearly) lone character. The fascinating third act swings deliver a memorable experience worthy of the time spent getting there. This is a smart, efficient, surprising experience. A high recommendation for those looking for something completely fresh in their apocalyptic horror.
4/5
