by Martin Unsworth
A group of people are selected for a mysterious, controversial therapy retreat led by Tobin Vance (co-writer Tom Malloy), a self-help guru who has been forced to flee the US. Suffering from various mental health issues, the five strangers are subjected to the most outrageous techniques that become more shockingly drastic as the week goes on.
In a departure from what we’ve come to expect from director Lawrie Brewster (Lord of Tears, Automata), The Vance Institute leaves behind the Gothic brand he and his production company Hex Media have established so well. A concession, perhaps, is presenting the film in desaturated monochrome, which gives the movie a gritty, bleak feel that matches the mood of the characters and the extreme nastiness on display. One trippy sequence effectively flashes into garish colour, however.
Working as a sequel to the obscure 2019 indie Trauma Therapy, it’s an often brutal experience, once again highlighted by the stark black-and-white visuals. The illnesses depicted are as exaggerated as the methods the institute dishes out.
There are a number of Hex regulars in the mix, including Jamie Scott Gordon and Megan Tremethick, who excel in their performances, alongside Hannah New (Black Sails) and co-writers/directors David Josh Lawrence and Tom Malloy.
The Vance Institute doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the type of film it is, and rather than having lofty psychological pretences, appears to revel in its luridness. Worth checking out if you’re not squeamish about mental health issues.
The Vance Institute is out now and available to purchase from https://www.hexstudios.shop/product-page/the-vance-institute
