The only thing I liked about this movie was the music. I so would buy an album from her. The rest of the movie had no plot and seemed to go nowhere. Watched on Shudder. Unfortunately, I expected more from them.
27 Reviews
Beautiful music
brandatha27 November 2021
Snoozefest
dracforever14 December 2021
I am not one who needs everything in a movie spoon fed to me but, this had no cognizant plot, no character development, no redeeming quality. The only decent part was the cinematography. IMHO don't waste time on this one.
Entertaining when it wants to be
kannibalcorpsegrinder24 November 2021
Trying to continue her career, a young musician rents out a remote house in the wilderness to hone her songwriting craft, but the longer she stays there she comes to believe there's a malevolent supernatural force living in the house that doesn't want her there and tries to find out what it wants to get away alive.
Overall, this one was a rather solid if troubled effort. When this one works best is the rather enjoyable setup that gets her out to the house and lets the atmosphere there take over. With the early introduction giving us a glimpse of her efforts towards the musical endeavors and the desire for solitude to complete her compositions, stumbling upon the remote house in the middle of the countryside and using the isolation to craft her skills is a fine endeavor that allows the film to move into the haunting atmosphere quite well. The howling winds, freezing desolate landscapes, and complete silence since she's the only person in the area manage to combine together into an effective atmospheric touch which is quite well appreciated here as the sequences of her setting up the place to be furnished and livable space offering up a fine start to things. From there, the film generates a lot to like with the addition of the supernatural into the proceedings which are quite fun. The first stages to this, with the discovery in the photograph and a dark figure spotted in the background of a video taken when she's unaware of its presence, are subtle enough clues that something's going on and starting to affect her psychologically. The later stages, where it shows up around the house and is not really interacting but more looking over her to the point where it's become far more psychologically destructive about her music and career as well as the relationship she's trying to salvage are fine enough as well at continuing this effect, but once her friend becomes involved and under its influence, this one picks back up again to have a chilling enough climax to be mildly enjoyable overall. There are some problems to be had with this one. The main drawback to the film is the agonizingly slow and dreary pacing that keeps the film from ever generating any kind of momentum or excitement for anything. It's almost as lethargic as the atmosphere here where there's no energy at all for anything that happens, whether it's the scenes arriving at the house, taking in the local landscapes, or even just the scenes of her and the photographer getting together which are all in the same tempo and setup that it all just comes off with a similar sense of disinterest. As well, this also manages the other feat of making the films' genre qualities come off so deep in the second act that it's very possible to have checked out from lack of interest long before it gets there since it never gives off hints or any other kind of notice that the film will become one with the way it builds up. These issues are what cause this one to hold itself down overall.
Rated Unrated/R: Language, Violence and Brief Nudity.
Overall, this one was a rather solid if troubled effort. When this one works best is the rather enjoyable setup that gets her out to the house and lets the atmosphere there take over. With the early introduction giving us a glimpse of her efforts towards the musical endeavors and the desire for solitude to complete her compositions, stumbling upon the remote house in the middle of the countryside and using the isolation to craft her skills is a fine endeavor that allows the film to move into the haunting atmosphere quite well. The howling winds, freezing desolate landscapes, and complete silence since she's the only person in the area manage to combine together into an effective atmospheric touch which is quite well appreciated here as the sequences of her setting up the place to be furnished and livable space offering up a fine start to things. From there, the film generates a lot to like with the addition of the supernatural into the proceedings which are quite fun. The first stages to this, with the discovery in the photograph and a dark figure spotted in the background of a video taken when she's unaware of its presence, are subtle enough clues that something's going on and starting to affect her psychologically. The later stages, where it shows up around the house and is not really interacting but more looking over her to the point where it's become far more psychologically destructive about her music and career as well as the relationship she's trying to salvage are fine enough as well at continuing this effect, but once her friend becomes involved and under its influence, this one picks back up again to have a chilling enough climax to be mildly enjoyable overall. There are some problems to be had with this one. The main drawback to the film is the agonizingly slow and dreary pacing that keeps the film from ever generating any kind of momentum or excitement for anything. It's almost as lethargic as the atmosphere here where there's no energy at all for anything that happens, whether it's the scenes arriving at the house, taking in the local landscapes, or even just the scenes of her and the photographer getting together which are all in the same tempo and setup that it all just comes off with a similar sense of disinterest. As well, this also manages the other feat of making the films' genre qualities come off so deep in the second act that it's very possible to have checked out from lack of interest long before it gets there since it never gives off hints or any other kind of notice that the film will become one with the way it builds up. These issues are what cause this one to hold itself down overall.
Rated Unrated/R: Language, Violence and Brief Nudity.
Like watching paint peel
richardcostantino23 November 2021
The first 20 minutes could have been edited out, and nothing would be lost. The movie moves at a glacial pace all the way through. If you enjoy watching an overweight, depressed, emo, moping around smoking, drinking, staring into space, and twiddling knobs on her casio synths, then this is the movie for you.
The mundane life of a singer/songwriter
chanin-5461623 November 2021
But why? An hour in and all that has happened is a bunch of long drawn out scenes of nothing. Just her life alone in this cabin doing everyday, mundane things. Not sure how that makes a movie plot. Imagine The Movie A Ghost Story, but without the emotion or story. It just goes back and forth between her staring into space, and writing music. At this point I just want to yell at the writer and director "WE GET IT! SHE'S LONELY AND SHE'S A SONG WRITER! CAN WE MOVE ON ALREADY?!?!?!?!?" But move on we did not. She performed no less than 5 (terrible) full length songs during the movie, and the acting is bad, the dialogue is bad, and her fake smoking is bad. This movie is just bad. This movie was aiming to be a slow burn, but it was just a slow because there was no burn. This was barely even a drama. Skip this one.
Arthouse piece that misses the mark
maggieannecrowe23 November 2021
Despite some gorgeous cinematography, this film fails to deliver anything worthwhile. Unconvincing performances, lackluster character building and a story that fails to do much of anything combine to deliver a truly awful film. Don't waste your time.
I'll never get that time back!
randolphdrewhunter26 November 2021
Like watching an 89 year old guy with prostate issues take a leak. It's a very long drawn out process, but not too much actually comes out. Anti-climactic and scenes are long and drawn out. The story building is like a bad massage without the happy ending. If you didn't watch this movie, your life will be no different than if you did. The only thing good about it was the acting, it seemed real. For that, 2 stars.... out of 100.
The music is fantastic
casher437 March 2022
The film itself... not so much. The camera work and lighting are fine. The audio is right where it needs to be. The acting isn't award winning but it's serviceable. And again, the music is phenomenal. But it's essentially an advertisement for the music. Nothing happens, really. The lead character spends most of the film bathing, on the phone, playing music, smoking, on the phone again, bathing again. Rinse/repeat. So I guess, if the intention of the film was to sell me on the music, then kudos. You succeeded. Teagan Johnston is now on my rotation on Spotify and I tell people about her music. By the way, the lead actress is actually a singer/songwriter, which lends further credence to my theory that this was made to sell music. However, if the director was trying to make an enjoyable horror film, even a slow burn, they failed miserably. 10 stars for the music, 1 star for the film.
Well....
cameron1151152 December 2021
I've seen garbage movies and I dare say I recognise one when I see one and guess what... This is one of em. I'm not gonna fat shame the lead, like other reviewers have... pointless, what I will do is say is from the lead the the support cast the acting its just poor the "story" is weak. We don't get any reason or rhyme as to why the spooks there not always needed I know, but, when the script and film in general is this bad some explaining is needed . The only good thing about this movie is that it ends.
I liked it.
DocM014 December 2021
I see I'm one of the few people who actually liked this film. It's a nice, slow-paced film, with beautiful music performed by a talented actress. It chronicles the transformation from blocked creativity to true art and the costs associated with that journey. It reminds me of the video game "The Cat Lady", which I also enjoyed as a slow, immersive story. Watch this in the winter, while the sky is pale and grey.
Here's a strange one to check out.
crudelia134 March 2022
Not your typical horror movie, THE STRINGS (2020) is a slow burning, atmospheric look into the mind of a music composer. Hauntingly portrayed by Teagan Johnston, a Canadian musician, in a beautifully somber winterscape that echoes her barren personal life, realities seem to merge and overlap within a ghostly situation, that could just well be all in her fractured mind. Reminiscent of The Shining, in that way. Don't expect too much action, though, or a clearly-explained ending; just some clever hints...
Personally, I like it, and her music too, there's a beautiful sadness to it all; just not most people's cup of tea, I guess.
Terrible waste of time
jriversquackquack2 December 2021
Where to begin? The songs belong at a bad teenage poetry open mic, the characters have no motivation, there's enough plot for about a five-minute short, the acting is amateurish, and the soundtrack intrudes like a dump truck. Sure, there are some nice shots of landscapes and houses, but whatever passes for a story here is so thin that you won't care. Add in the barest whisper of pretentious New Age "guantum curtain" or whatever, and you've got this movie. I watched it on Shudder and it made me want to cancel.
Painfully lifeless
NickKnack6827 February 2022
No idea who thought having a musician deal with their creative process in an isolated cabin would be a good scenario for a horror film (and perhaps it could've been), but here it's an exercise in patience as NOTHING happens for 99% of the running time.
Non-existent plot, nothing even slightly scary, THE STRINGS is an epic waste of time. Just ... wow.
Non-existent plot, nothing even slightly scary, THE STRINGS is an epic waste of time. Just ... wow.
The Saying is Like Watching Paint DRY
soulcrisis281 December 2021
Even with that, that is still giving this steaming pile of poo emoji entirely too much credit. The lead is not easy on the eyes, overweight and unattractive as others have already said, they weren't stretching the truth, talentless hack should be added to the list. Whatever this nonsense is she calls "music" is well not any good. What's even a little funny but really just sad is the movie tries to play off like she's some established musician which just makes it all that much worse. Everything in this movie is fake and bad, her fake and bad acting, her fake and bad smoking, her fake and bad drinking, her really fake and bad "music"
I hesitate to call this a slow burn, cause it never even catches a spark to start to slow burn. Anywho read the other reviews, others have made comical points about the movie that are true and made me laugh a little.
In fact, I'd almost say the reviews are more entertaining than the movie. Skip this if you value your time at all.
I hesitate to call this a slow burn, cause it never even catches a spark to start to slow burn. Anywho read the other reviews, others have made comical points about the movie that are true and made me laugh a little.
In fact, I'd almost say the reviews are more entertaining than the movie. Skip this if you value your time at all.
So boring
gatlinmark25 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The movie is so boring. Elongated sessions of the main character making the worst music I've ever heard followed by ridiculous stagnant camera angles of her doing literally nothing, and the constantly fake smoking.got old really quick. Honestly forgot it was a "horror" movie about an hour into this disaster. I love independent horror, but this movie is a weak drama at best. I can't get that pathetic drum beat out of my head... That scene was actual torture, just didn't end and gave NOTHING to the story. I gave this movie a chance but I just couldn't get into it at all. Poor acting, terrible music, and literally no plot whatsoever.
Painful to watch, painful to hear
FilmFungi21 March 2024
I like slow burn horror, but that's not what this is. At all.
The beauty of a quiet horror movie taking its time is the building tension that pulls tighter and tighter until you need it to break. Great directors know how to draw you in so you not only care about the characters, but you dread what might be coming. What they don't do is make you just watch someone silently mope, stare off into the middle distance, and scroll through pictures of themselves.
Ok, sometimes the lead makes music. And by "make music", I mean she plays two minor chords on a Casio to a lame drum machine, uses a loop pedal so poorly that it doesn't line up, then goes "ahhhhh ahhhhhh" into a microphone. I laughed out loud when she stopped moan-singing for a second and rubbed her hand on her face, then scribbled a note on a piece of paper like she was fixing a lyric. The lyrics were just "ahhhhh", so what was she writing? That said, there is some sort of poetry in the fact that her music is just two sad chords, droning on and on with nothing to hook you in. That's this movie!
Maybe the main character is a lovely person who we all should care about, but it's hard to convey that when all we see her do is act self-obsessed and bored. The rare bits of dialog are just people talking about her, but none of it is the slightest bit interesting. She has a long Skype call with a friend (now that's cinema), and she shows zero interest in the other person. They just talk about her, her music, her breakup, her photo shoot, and her room. The only redeeming thing about that scene is that it's so horribly acted that it's actually a little entertaining.
Really, don't waste your time with this one. It's not so bad it's good, just bad and boring.
The beauty of a quiet horror movie taking its time is the building tension that pulls tighter and tighter until you need it to break. Great directors know how to draw you in so you not only care about the characters, but you dread what might be coming. What they don't do is make you just watch someone silently mope, stare off into the middle distance, and scroll through pictures of themselves.
Ok, sometimes the lead makes music. And by "make music", I mean she plays two minor chords on a Casio to a lame drum machine, uses a loop pedal so poorly that it doesn't line up, then goes "ahhhhh ahhhhhh" into a microphone. I laughed out loud when she stopped moan-singing for a second and rubbed her hand on her face, then scribbled a note on a piece of paper like she was fixing a lyric. The lyrics were just "ahhhhh", so what was she writing? That said, there is some sort of poetry in the fact that her music is just two sad chords, droning on and on with nothing to hook you in. That's this movie!
Maybe the main character is a lovely person who we all should care about, but it's hard to convey that when all we see her do is act self-obsessed and bored. The rare bits of dialog are just people talking about her, but none of it is the slightest bit interesting. She has a long Skype call with a friend (now that's cinema), and she shows zero interest in the other person. They just talk about her, her music, her breakup, her photo shoot, and her room. The only redeeming thing about that scene is that it's so horribly acted that it's actually a little entertaining.
Really, don't waste your time with this one. It's not so bad it's good, just bad and boring.
The Strings
BandSAboutMovies5 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One look this film's '70s drive-in retro one-sheet and you can see that Canadian writer and director Ryan Glover is one of us: raised on those classic horror films from the early days of video stores filled with wares from the '70s. Primarily a cinematographer with 20 credits to his resume, The Strings is his third dual credit. He made his debut with a short, The Key (2008), and a Toronto-based drama, Hills Green (2013). Both films are collaborative efforts from Glover and his screenwriting partner, Krista Dzialoszynski.
A cross-pollination of horror and thriller . . . As the one sheet says: Catherine, a Toronto, Ontario, musician, will have her eyes opened in the dead of winter . . . As she stays at her Aunt's remote cabin on Prince Edwards Island to work on new material for her next album. That is until a mysterious presence of an urban legend makes itself known. There's nothing like a break up with a boyfriend to send you running to an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence - one that empties out during the dead of winter - to make you easy pickings for a victim of a religious-based suicide by self-freezing in the cold, Atlantic-fed waters.
Glover accomplishes a lot with his slight location and small cast, expertly capturing the cold, barren isolation of the off-season island. However, if you're in the horror market for "shock scares," this isn't your film. Be prepared for a well-written and acted character study buoyed by Teagan Johnston's performance that brings Dzialoszynski's scripted chills to fruition and only adds to Glover's crafty camerawork.
Horror fans my recognize the names - for some additional streaming incentive - of producers Robert Menzies and Paul Moyer from The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015), and Dave Conlon and Bruce Fleming, known for A Nightmare Wakes (2019).
A cross-pollination of horror and thriller . . . As the one sheet says: Catherine, a Toronto, Ontario, musician, will have her eyes opened in the dead of winter . . . As she stays at her Aunt's remote cabin on Prince Edwards Island to work on new material for her next album. That is until a mysterious presence of an urban legend makes itself known. There's nothing like a break up with a boyfriend to send you running to an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence - one that empties out during the dead of winter - to make you easy pickings for a victim of a religious-based suicide by self-freezing in the cold, Atlantic-fed waters.
Glover accomplishes a lot with his slight location and small cast, expertly capturing the cold, barren isolation of the off-season island. However, if you're in the horror market for "shock scares," this isn't your film. Be prepared for a well-written and acted character study buoyed by Teagan Johnston's performance that brings Dzialoszynski's scripted chills to fruition and only adds to Glover's crafty camerawork.
Horror fans my recognize the names - for some additional streaming incentive - of producers Robert Menzies and Paul Moyer from The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015), and Dave Conlon and Bruce Fleming, known for A Nightmare Wakes (2019).
Better Than Teading a Book to Fall Asleep
rickccrandon18 January 2024
Strange but only the eerie background sounds made it scary.
I was definitely able to fall asleep. Not even the nude shower scenes could keep me awake. If she is a composer/musician, she would be better served writing less dark, melancholy music.
The "cabin" was nice but the frozen wasteland and isolation ... who would want to live there alone, particularly in winter.
Almost fell asleep writing this review because reviews require six hundred characters but can't find anything else to say about this film. Just...EXCRUCIATINGLY brutally boring. Could have spent my time having a bourbon at a boring bar.
I was definitely able to fall asleep. Not even the nude shower scenes could keep me awake. If she is a composer/musician, she would be better served writing less dark, melancholy music.
The "cabin" was nice but the frozen wasteland and isolation ... who would want to live there alone, particularly in winter.
Almost fell asleep writing this review because reviews require six hundred characters but can't find anything else to say about this film. Just...EXCRUCIATINGLY brutally boring. Could have spent my time having a bourbon at a boring bar.
Subtle supernatural horror
jmarie13494 June 2023
As a fan of supernatural horror I just gave a low mark to 'the popes exorcist ' and 'pray for the devil', both bigger budget cliche crap.
In this film, its subtle to the point of non existence but personally I prefer that. When something does actually happen it has weight.
The reviews criticising the looks and weight of the lead actress are appalling. It's 2023, wake up you low life. I'm sick of films with skinny, Conventionally attractive women for the sake of it, its the most pathetic cliche EVER. Watch blue movies if you need to jack off.
This is something subtle, different and with a cool modern vibe and Arctic landscape. It is worth watching in my opinion.
In this film, its subtle to the point of non existence but personally I prefer that. When something does actually happen it has weight.
The reviews criticising the looks and weight of the lead actress are appalling. It's 2023, wake up you low life. I'm sick of films with skinny, Conventionally attractive women for the sake of it, its the most pathetic cliche EVER. Watch blue movies if you need to jack off.
This is something subtle, different and with a cool modern vibe and Arctic landscape. It is worth watching in my opinion.
Unique kind
ks-6050027 December 2021
This product is more selling the music implant by horror storyline. It could be totally lame but the outcome not too bad indeed. Just a matter of balancing between the music part vs the story would be better. I can see people watching this expect more on horror and storyline but not the music piece. But I found this interesting product, an unusual mix of elements.
Beautiful.
jessyluttrell23 November 2021
Slow and atmospheric
staglee-3850020 June 2022
Subtle
ladymidath15 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I can see why people think the movie is slow and boring. I think there are a few scenes that could be shortened and there were many scenes with the protagonist, Catherine (Teagan Johnston) a musician working on her songs. This is a small complaint though as I thought the overall film was actually pretty good. It was slow, but it managed to set the mood, which was a very bleak one indeed. The frozen snow covered setting, the lonely isolated house, this all helps to build up a sense of slow dread. There are very few jump scares which is a good thing as I think it would have hurt the feel of the movie.
The Strings is a rather multi layered movie, as on the surface it's a supernatural movie with a spooky presence that is stalking the main character. But it is clear the Catherine is troubled, she is dealing with things that are causing stress while trying to create new songs. She is drinking too much and she seems depressed. This adds another layer to the story.
Her girlfriend Grace, (Jenna Schaefer) also seems to succumb to whatever it is that has started to haunt Catherine. Something that seems to have followed her from an old house that she and her photographer friend visited. The movie's story, mood and atmosphere are spot on, the music is beautiful, but if they had spent more time on the scarier scenes then the ones where she is just working on her music would have made the story move forward at a better pace. While I like movies that take there time and don't rush through the story, there were a few scenes here that really didn't have to go for as long as they did. Still, this is a very good horror movie and if you can be patient, is worth the watch.
The Strings is a rather multi layered movie, as on the surface it's a supernatural movie with a spooky presence that is stalking the main character. But it is clear the Catherine is troubled, she is dealing with things that are causing stress while trying to create new songs. She is drinking too much and she seems depressed. This adds another layer to the story.
Her girlfriend Grace, (Jenna Schaefer) also seems to succumb to whatever it is that has started to haunt Catherine. Something that seems to have followed her from an old house that she and her photographer friend visited. The movie's story, mood and atmosphere are spot on, the music is beautiful, but if they had spent more time on the scarier scenes then the ones where she is just working on her music would have made the story move forward at a better pace. While I like movies that take there time and don't rush through the story, there were a few scenes here that really didn't have to go for as long as they did. Still, this is a very good horror movie and if you can be patient, is worth the watch.
See also
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