Skip to content

CLOSER TO GOD

Written By:

John Townsend
closertogod

The well-worn Frankenstein tale is given a modern twist for the digital age in Billy Senese’s debut feature Closer to God. Desperate to clone a human, for reasons never fully explained, Victor (Jeremy Childs) ignores the lessons of previous experiments in the pursuit of his goal. Inevitably the past catches up with him.

Senese’s film is bleak; very, very bleak. From the washed out grey hues of the colour palette to the disingenuous motives of the protagonists, this is not a film with even a hint of light and joy. There are few if any characters that emerge with any hope of redemption as each one hides a secret of some description, some less clear than others perhaps, but every performance comes with a troubled, haunted look permanently etched across the brow.

The central premise of genetic control is certainly an interesting one, but Senese doesn’t really offer anything new on the subject. At times, mainly due to the amount of faux news footage used to add exposition and advance the narrative, the whole thing feels too much like a documentary or dramatic reconstruction. The dialogue, which is as clinical as the surgeon’s scrubs, adds to this notion as nothing feels at all natural, with an air of stunted discomfort present in many of the exchanges.

Where Senese does impress, without being entirely successful, is in his Lynchian ambitions with regard to atmosphere. There is a heady weight of portent as Victor tries to ignore the growing menace that is his previous experiment; a boy called Ethan who suffers from serious deformity and uncontrollable bouts of rage. The return and subsequent revenge of the “monster” is predictable but you still feel the oppressiveness of the growing tension, and the violence when it comes is both shocking and brutal.

Whether intentional or not, the anti-cloning message in Closer to God is clear but it is secondary to what is an intense thriller with some genuinely horrific and creepy moments. That it is too close to the Frankenstein story is somewhat to its detriment (irate villagers brandishing iPhones instead of pitchforks anyone?) as there is enough chilling menace in the story to have avoided the unnecessary and unhelpful comparison. Closer to God is an impressive debut that promises much from the writer and director if you can get past that bleakness. After watching you will certainly crave something distinctly fluffier… or perhaps a stiff drink or two.

Special Features: TBC

CLOSER TO GOD / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: BILLY SENESE / STARRING: JEREMY CHILDS, SHELEAN NEWMAN, SHANNON HOPPE, DAVID ALFORD / RELEASE DATE: VOD OUT NOW
 

John Townsend

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More