Pollen (II) (2023) User Reviews

Starts off really decent but ends ok.

[LordCommandar · 5/10 · 9 June 2023]

Honestly I didn't understand what I was watching. But what I think in the end, this may have just a been very unique way of telling a story about a young new hire junior analyst female being taking advantage of by her male coworker sexually who happened to be the veep and her boss and after being duped and dumped by him harbors repressed feelings of hurt in the form of a conjured up tree monster that causes her to come unhinged because she didn't know how to deal with those repressed feelings. At first I wasn't really sure what to make of the story because it started of odd, became more interesting, went full on crazy and then calmed itself back down to being a comprehensive thought out story. A one time watch, toss when finish.

What the Pollen?

[xxmisssvxx · 5/10 · 11 June 2023]

Where to begin? This film is ...weird. It had some potential but then went into a weird direction with a weird obsession, followed by a weird spiral. So, yeah, weird.

The film is about a young girl who's sexually, emotionally, and mentally abused by a guy she likes at work. Having to face him daily while working at what is supposed to be her dream job turns into a toxic environment as she's surrounded by coworkers who are self-absorbed bullies. She's given a plant that she grows an attachment to, which also begins the start of her spiral. Accompanied by her spiral are visions of a tree creature that haunts her causing her to behavior to progress.

The characters are unknown and the plot really loses its entire base without any substance other than a viewer watching a character lose her mind in such a weird way. I'm sure the script on paper may have been decent but the execution was poor.

This one is a 5/10, no more, no less.

Poorly written

[tbuestrin · 2/10 · 30 November 2023]

It certainly looks like it has potential from the quality of filming, the mood, the pace. But within the first 10 minutes the writing and dialogue are just unrealistic and almost cringy.

Just feels like the writer (and likely director) have a very preconceived notion of personal interaction in an office environment and the alpha male "boss/employee" relationship. It's just not believable...especially for a movie that was made in 2023. The stereotypes are old, so is the victimhood of the main character.

Hera doesn't essentially get raped, shower in her clothes and scrub her body down...and then fawn over Zach immediately after. Her co-workers/bosses are all completely rude and caddy. The snobby coworker Vicky and her blunt travel questions, doing coke in the bathroom, etc, just all put together feels overly dramatic and stereotyped. The angry female boss telling her she's overdressed since she doesn't see clients...something a boss would never say in that matter.

If this movies was made in or set in 1982 it would be far more believable.

rather mediocre

[thesilverskull · 3/10 · 8 June 2023]

Despite looking like a rather promising creature feature horror movie, Pollen ends up being a metaphore for the sexual abuse and metal trauma faced by women.

While being about a very real and serious subject matter , pollen is just the usual rehashed "men bad" message reheated and served in yet another format.

Quality of dialogue and atmosphere varies significantly during the movie, going from pretty decent to rather amateurish levels.

A bit sad over all, lead actress is quite good and her talentes seem a bit wasted on Pollen's meandering plot.

I personally would not reccomend this to any of my friends.

Unauthentic, unrealistic trash

[EODGhost · 2/10 · 6 March 2024]

I think this was written by a first year women's studies student, and not a good one. The main character is an extremely emotionally immature woman, who mistakes the work place for a mating habitat and proceeds to be taken advantage of by her stereotypical "bad-misogynist" boss. She has a fellow female co-worker who takes part in mocking her as if this is a middle school lunch room, rather than a professional work place. She then proceeds to confuse reality with horticulture, having dreams of plant monsters and a slew of non-scary attempts at being a horror film.

In the end, it's very sophomoric and not scary. If I was Miss Smith's eight grade drama teacher, I'd tell her to try harder and focus less on the made up stereotypes in her head, and more on making character real.

Yes, it's that bad; like an after school special that's not close to being special. Whoever writes this trash should be a gardener themselves, because movie making just doesn't suit you. That's not a glass ceiling, that's a concrete reinforced bunker. Find a new career.

Mockumental horror

[intrevulve · 1/10 · 9 July 2023]

I have a very big problem with this film. Its author mocks adult women with its portrayal of a vulnerable, unsecure and abused female character and I am a male myself. There's rape on the door steps already before entering the bedroom, which the main character sublimates into love. There's toxic and highly competitive corporate white-collar work climate that the female character, portrayed like a Kimmy Schmidt minus the charisma and the smile, must navigate but she constantly mistakes the working place for a mating habitat or a romantic medium, confounds males for trees, plants for men, evening dresses for work attire, even her own 'no' for 'yes'. Thre are constant breadcrumbs left for viewers to see who's who and what leads where, like for instance the used condom on the floor, the confession that the condom was both used and not used, from a man who assesses risk for a living. Since, judging by the place she works, the viewer must think of her as highly educated and long past puberty, the only explanation I came with, for the course of events and the 'story', others may not be necessarily be in agreement with, is that the film is either a mockery dressed up as a horror, a horror dressed up as a mockery or there's a mind behind it, itself troubled, who mistakes itself as creative. A poet armed with the wrong tools, a gardener with pots of weed instead of flowers. The horror atribute of this film refers to its perceived toxicity in viewers like myself. One of those films you watch because you're not smart and don't know better (I admit it) and neither did the filmmaker expect it. From me, even 1 star is undeserved.

Just bad and NOT A HORROR

[deadgirlrising · 1/10 · 8 June 2023]

Because of the ridiculous minimum character count I'll be repeating myself several times. This is NOT a horror movie. I have no idea what movie the other reviewer saw, but it couldn't be this one. The characters, all are not relatable, not sympathetic and the actors portraying them just can't. Nothing redeeming about this movie. Nothing enjoyable. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one.

Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, Not a horror, NOT a horror, not a horror, not a horror, NOT a horror, NOT a horror, Not a horror, NOT a Horror, Not a horror, don't be duped this is NOT a horror. No.

Creative Indie Related to Trauma

[zack_gideon · 6/10 · 8 June 2023]

This is an interesting little movie. It's an art film surrounded around sexual trauma and mental health, using the plant as a metaphor. That's at least what my interpretation is.

The lead actress is talented and portrays a young, confused and harmed woman with an ease that's hard to do honestly. Without her, the film wouldn't work as well. The office scenes are also pretty good, definitely laughed at a few of them for sure.

The plot is metaphoric and hard to really get a grip on, but it works in the end. Overall, a creative indie that I enjoyed. I miss working out of an office sometimes, so a little nostalgic for me. The other actors also did well. 6.2/10. Nice work!

a film portraying a troubled soul

[blackmelo · 4/10 · 9 June 2023]

This is the story of a woman going through her nightmare office job and the struggles she endures in a male dominated workplace where she lets herself get taken advantage of by her boss, leading to her seeking her own revenge. If you want to watch an office related show I would recommend the british tv show "the office" - not the american spin-off of said tv show. This was really boring in comparison to those however so don't expect great things from this film hence the low rating. There is a bit of blood but nothing too entertaining really happens. The opening scene is a woman having committed suicide and after witnessing the main character struggle with her depression and subsequent hallucinations I assumed it was her but it isn't so I don't know what the opening scene had to do with the film overall at all and was completely unrelated. I wouldn't even recommend this film if you were bored. Save yourself the trouble unless you are a fan of obscure hallucinations mimicking her descent into insanity. There was one funny scene where she has breakfast with her hallucination sitting next to her. That was the highlight of this film. I don't like how little the film made sense overall or how it tries to convey how men are sexual predators (I assume) considering her ultimate actions which just proves the opposite to be honest. Low budget and not memorable. At one point she believes getting out the lawnmower to mow the lawn is murdering the grass, it's a film you would expect the character phoebe from "Friends" to have brought out. Maybe for some feminist eco-warriors out there. Not my cup of tea.

Toxic Workplace

[Horror_Flick_Fanatic · 8/10 · 11 June 2023]

Pollen is a 2023 psychological horror film directed by D. W. Medoff and starring Ava Rose Kinard. The film tells the story of Hera, a young woman who is assaulted by a senior coworker at her dream job. As she tries to keep her career together, she is tormented at work, at home, and in her dreams by a mysterious tree monster.

Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that explores the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma. Kinard gives a powerful performance as Hera, and the film's visuals are striking and atmospheric. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it.

Positives

Strong performances from Ava Rose Kinard and the supporting cast Striking visuals and atmospheric cinematography Thought-provoking exploration of the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma Negatives

The film can be slow-paced at times The ending may be unsatisfying for some viewers Overall, Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is worth watching.

Recommendation

I recommend Pollen to fans of psychological horror films, as well as anyone who is interested in films that explore the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma.

I am a little surprised how low its rated on IMDB. The film really is well made, well casted and well acted. Perhaps the slasher seekers don't understand the point of this film. The work environment depicted in this film is quite common in the professional office space. The only area I think it could have been better was the ending scene where the higher up is killed in the girls apartment. It just didn't fit the rest of the film. I think a better smarter revenge should have been written into the story at the end. But other than that, this feels like a A24 film.

Oh-oh, close your weary eyes! I promise you that soon the autumn comes. To darken fading summer skies. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

[frank-liesenborgs · 7/10 · 8 June 2023]

"Pollen" unfolds as a haunting tale, shrouded in enigma and foreboding, following the journey of Hera, a determined young woman seeking to ascend the treacherous rungs of the corporate ladder. However, Hera's path takes a chilling turn when she becomes a victim of a sinister act, her innocence shattered by the touch of her malevolent boss. As Hera fights to salvage her shattered career, a sense of inexplicable dread begins to seep into every facet of her existence, infiltrating not only her workplace and sanctuary but also the ethereal realm of her dreams. The movie seems to be dripping in symbolism. Would not classify it as horror. The intro song from Liana Flores - Rises the moon has a reference to the daffodil (Yellow Narcissus). This flower symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It's one of the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter, announcing the beginning of spring and signifying the end of the cold, dark days. Less commonly, daffodils may also symbolize creativity, energy, resilience, forgiveness, and vitality. Next, we have pollen, a powdery substance produced by flowers. It contains tiny grains that carry male gametes, or sperm cells. These grains have a protective coating and travel from the male to the female parts of plants. When they land on a compatible female structure, they grow a tube to transfer the sperm cells. If you watch closely enough, you will see that this makes sense. Cannot go into detail here. Spoiler alert! However, the longer you watch the better it gets. As the runtime is only 86 minutes, I believe you have to stick around to the end. This movie will not bore you. It also shows how horrible people can be. It's a warning that shows the serious issues of sexual assault, toxicity in the workplace, and trauma. Pollen amplifies the horrors that take place too often in corporate America and shows audiences these monsters in a very literal sense. The movie also showcases the talent of Ava Rose Kinard, making her remarkable feature film debut as the lead character Hera, brilliantly portraying both the joys of success and the depths of trauma. For those prepared for its intense subject matter, "Pollen" guarantees an unforgettable and impactful viewing experience. A very solid 7/10. And a strong recommendation to go and watch this movie and have patience.

Writer/director shouldn't quit their day job

[phuckracistgop · 1/10 · 8 March 2024]

From top to bottom this entire affair sucks.

Weak script, cliche characters and extremely predictable.

Add extremely childish and over the top acting, to down right stupid with how they responded to a work place stabbing with a pen. The boss comes off offering her money for sex, so she goes home and has a fit screaming at a potted plant.

One of these days we might find an actual script writer with an original thought and women are seen as more than just eye candy and are written with some substance. And not these typical airheads we get all the time, who's decision making is either bad or worst possible choice ever.

Dangerous Obsession: A Cautionary Tale About Trauma, And Hanging On To Toxic Relationships.

[meddlecore · 7/10 · 9 June 2023]

An innocent young woman, who has recently landed her dream job, gets roped into a toxic sexual relationship with a senior coworker.

As a result of the trauma she endures from the relationship, she ends up in a particularly fragile mental state.

During which she takes on a pot of flowers- given to her, as a gift, by the man- as her best friend, and confidant.

Only for it to become a monstrous beast, that torments her both in waking life, and her nightmares.

She uses the flowers as a stand in for the partner she wants him to be.

But it's quite clear, they have taken on the toxic form of his actual personality.

At least in the back of her mind.

Though, the lines between the real and psychological are blurred by a series of synchronicities she experiences through her niece.

Forcing her into a state of cognitive dissonance...that causes her to question reality.

And puts her at risk of losing her job.

The whole scenario acts as a metaphor for rejection.

Particularly how such an experience can affect empathetic individuals, like Hera, here.

Encouraging them to retain a connection to toxic aspects of their life, despite the fact that they are destroying them, from the inside out.

Making the monster she sees, a projection of her own mental state.

As she spirals toward delusion, as a result of the trauma she has endured.

An experience that is exacerbated, amidst the pressure of trying to make it, in a fast paced environment, where the men around her are continuously trying to exploit her (in order to satiate their own lustful desires).

All of which gives the film an air of dark humour...despite the rather serious subject matter it seeks to confront.

In regards to how being rejected by someone, only acts to make us, as humans, seek their approval, even more.

Often times, to the detriment of the more healthy relationships in our lives.

Of course, Hera is not the monster here (as if that even needs to be said).

The only monsters are those who use their positions of power over her to exploit her innocence.

Leaving a broken girl, in their wake...where a proud young woman, full of potential, once stood.

Making this a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, and hanging on to toxic relationships.

With a welcome ending, to a clearly tragic tale.

To cap off, what is a great little indie film.

In which a symbol of torment, is subverted into a symbol of empowerment.

A solid freshman feature from writer/director D. W. Medoff.

With a great performance by Ava Rose Kinard.

Talk about synchronicity...

7 out of 10.

An authentic, excellent, different film.

[almacenaz · 10/10 · 15 June 2023]

Although I am not a film critic, it seemed like a first class film in every way and with a style that goes beyond commercial cinema.

It has poetry, it has beauty, it teaches and nourishes.

It is not the typical shocking movie, or a great production. It does not have spectacular effects. It shows a daily situation and a daily problem, but it does so sincerely and with quality.

And it touches on some ethical issues that are important to raise awareness about.

I think these kinds of movies aren't particularly fun, but they aren't heavy or boring either. In my opinion this film has a pinch of art that fills my spirit.