Austin-based director Riley Stearns' short film The Cub, which preceded his upcoming feature-length debut Faults, revolved around the comically bizarre scenario of a straight-faced couple who send their daughter off to live with wolves, and concluded with a surprise finale. Faults also involves a strange relationship between a daughter and her parents with more going on than initially meets the eye. Faults is being lauded as a honest look at parental manipulation and brainwashing. In the film, Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Claire, a brainwashed cult member who is in the need of extensive deprogramming. It seems to be Winstead's performance that balances the tones and grounds the film from full-on dark humor into something more affecting and sobering. Sample review (via The Hollywood Reporter):
"The movie's look may be that of an off-kilter comedy but it soon starts to mine convincing psychodrama from the scenario. Stearns' script wastes no time in twisting things up, with suggestions of the supernatural and gangster-like subplots making the reprogramming effort more urgent. By the time the film gets where it's going, viewers may identify more than they expect with those who've been controlled by others with hidden agendas."
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
