Besetment

Besetment is a horror-thriller movie released in 2017 which tells the story of a young woman named Amanda Millard (played by Abby Wathen) who is struggling to make ends meet. She is living in a small town and has a difficult relationship with her mother. In an attempt to start a new life, she responds to a job offer that promises good pay, meals, and a place to stay. Despite the job being hours away, Amanda decides to take it anyway.

When Amanda reaches the job site, a remote and eerie bed and breakfast called the Oregon Grill, she realizes that something is not right about the place. The job turns out to be too good to be true as Amanda's employer, Mildred (played by Marlyn Mason), is a strange and overbearing woman who seems to have ulterior motives for hiring her. The staff is sparse, the building is rundown, and it is evident that the place is not operating as it once did. Mildred tasks Amanda with doing everything from cleaning to cooking, and as each day passes, Amanda becomes increasingly uncomfortable in the setting.

As the days go by, Amanda realizes that something is seriously wrong with the Oregon Grill. She begins to see and hear things that are not there - unexplained noises, doors slamming shut, and strange visions of a woman. Even though she has no one else to turn to, Amanda attempts to leave the bed and breakfast, only to discover that she is now trapped. The phone line is dead, and the doors are locked. Mildred and the other staff members appear to be hiding something, and Amanda must find a way to escape before it is too late.

The film's tension steadily escalates as Amanda tries to figure out the mystery of the Oregon Grill. Interactions between Amanda and the other characters are suspicious, to say the least, and the mystery revolving around the woman Amanda sees only grows murkier. The hotel manager, Mildred, hovers around her, making Amanda feel uneasy with her sudden mood swings and controlling nature. Amanda tries to keep her sanity together as strange things keep happening around her, and she becomes increasingly isolated and helpless.

As Amanda tries to escape, she realizes that she is in mortal danger. She must figure out what is going on before her time runs out. Besetment is a nail-biting thriller that is fueled by an intense fear of the unknown. Its story is presented with a slow-pacing that builds dread, although it takes some time to get there, and when it does, it delivers satisfying horror.

The movie's acting, particularly by the lead, Abby Wathen, and Marlyn Mason as the sinister, Mildred, is excellent. As viewers, we feel every ounce of fear and anxiety that Amanda feels, and the performances genuinely make this movie work. John T. Woods and Lindsae Klein, who play the roles of Sheriff Hendricks and Sandra, respectively, also add important elements to the story, contributing to the gradual build-up of paranoia and tension.

The cinematography, with its vast, sweeping shots of the Oregon countryside, is good to look at, and its eerie and haunting score pushes the film's ever-increasing set-up further. Director Brad Douglas plays around with the camera, using it to convey a sense of distress with precision.

Overall, Besetment is a well-crafted horror-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is an excellent example of an independent horror film that manages to deliver a creepy atmosphere and a sense of omnipresent dread. Although it wears its influences on its sleeve, it truly stands out as an independently-made horror flick with an engaging story and strong performances. The horror elements are genuinely scary, and the third act has enough surprises in store to keep viewers interested. Besetment is a great horror film that is well worth watching.