Everyone who attempts to make an ultra low-budget horror film or thriller hopes to make the next "Night Of The Living Dead" "Paranormal Activity" or "Blair Witch Project."
"The Institute" falls a bit short in that ambition. Although another reviewer likened "The Institute" to "Rosemary's Baby" this film is more reminiscent of the films "Island of Lost Souls" which was based on the H. G. Wells novel and remade two more times under the original title as "The Island of Dr. Moreau" with actors Burt Lancaster and Marlon Brando no less playing the evil doctor.
Writer/Director Hamza Zaman who also has a cameo as the Yogi has put together a well shot and edited film that slightly misses the mark.
Amram Bauman's cinematography is very good and the lead actors Ignacyo Matynia and Victorya Brandart portraying Danny and Marie are also good, and for the most part so were the supporting characters with the exception of the actor portraying Dr. Lands; he was not very convincing. The character of Sebastian, (apparently an early attempt at creating a modified human with for some reason fishlike appendages), comes off as extremely cheap visual effects, although the actor under the makeup does his best with what he's given to work with. The music at times is somewhat overbearing and unnecessarily loud and Mr. Zaman should have directed the placement of the music better.
That said this film moves at a good pace once the actors arrive at the institute. The opening scene is a nightmare sequence as Marie is being chased by some bad visual effects. There are some well shot sex scenes, and an orgy that comes out of nowhere and ultimately goes nowhere.
The film builds to a very good chase sequence where Danny and Marie are being pursued through the woods and fields surrounding the institute. Again good cinematography and editing keeps the audience engaged throughout this pursuit. The character of Buck who Marie meets when pounding on his trailer door looking for help is somewhat stereotypical but well played by actor Benjamin Curns. The last shot would have been really creepy around 1977 but ultimately falls a bit flat in 2022.
One hopes that Mr. Zaman gets more opportunities to work with higher budgets where he can flesh out his characters more and not rely on subpar visual effects.
Writer/Director Hamza Zaman who also has a cameo as the Yogi has put together a well shot and edited film that slightly misses the mark.
Amram Bauman's cinematography is very good and the lead actors Ignacyo Matynia and Victorya Brandart portraying Danny and Marie are also good, and for the most part so were the supporting characters with the exception of the actor portraying Dr. Lands; he was not very convincing. The character of Sebastian, (apparently an early attempt at creating a modified human with for some reason fishlike appendages), comes off as extremely cheap visual effects, although the actor under the makeup does his best with what he's given to work with. The music at times is somewhat overbearing and unnecessarily loud and Mr. Zaman should have directed the placement of the music better.
That said this film moves at a good pace once the actors arrive at the institute. The opening scene is a nightmare sequence as Marie is being chased by some bad visual effects. There are some well shot sex scenes, and an orgy that comes out of nowhere and ultimately goes nowhere.
The film builds to a very good chase sequence where Danny and Marie are being pursued through the woods and fields surrounding the institute. Again good cinematography and editing keeps the audience engaged throughout this pursuit. The character of Buck who Marie meets when pounding on his trailer door looking for help is somewhat stereotypical but well played by actor Benjamin Curns. The last shot would have been really creepy around 1977 but ultimately falls a bit flat in 2022.
One hopes that Mr. Zaman gets more opportunities to work with higher budgets where he can flesh out his characters more and not rely on subpar visual effects.
Tell Your Friends