Nathan Wilson, Ansel Faraj and Kelly Kitko take the familiar legend of Mary Jane, reanimating it as a spiraling kaleidoscope of past & present, of myth & imagination, of visions & and reality. Themes that run through LOON LAKE are almost Shakespearean in capturing human tragedy: the torment of grief, plagued by loss of faith, beset upon by supernatural forces, specters of madness lurking in shadows... The lush Minnesota countryside makes it feel like a Hammer Film, with moments of macabre, spine-chilling terror reminiscent of Poe. Bill Wandel's evocative original score ties everything together effortlessly. As a kid who ran home after school to watch Dark Shadows, having David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott paired up again (in different, albeit similar, roles) felt like seeing old friends reunited, creating authentic gothic horror ambiance. Nathan Wilson delivered all the emotion of a grieving widower, it touched my heart, particularly one scene between him and David Selby. Kelly Kitko's portrayal of the vengeful Mary Jane was potent, from innocent to ominous, compellingly sympathetic. Director Ansel Faraj has a gift for creating a mood, for crafting a tale, getting inside your mind, and he's done it again!
Review of Loon Lake
