Black Fly (2014) User Reviews

a grim and intense indie thriller

[bengleson · 7/10 · 11 October 2014]

I saw Black Fly in the Activity Centre Lounge on Denman Island on the evening of October 11, 2014.I went to it primarily because rarely do films also being shown at the Vancouver Film Festival make it to our little outpost especially during the actual festival. A portion of the film was shot on Denman and I assume showing it here was an offering of respect and appreciation for the reception shown during the filming.

Black Fly, directed by Jason Bourque, is a terrific little thriller. It is intense, depressing, (did I say intense?) and dark. Ostensibly based on a series of murders in New Brunswick 30 years ago, it stands on its own as a portrait of rural isolation and the violence which may be simmering just below the surface of all of our souls.

The scenes shot on Denman Island are beautiful as is the cinematography for the entire film. Though not for the faint of heart, I would recommend it to any moviegoer looking for a taste of anguish and angst.

Reminds me of '90s indie dramas but with poorer acting

[dvspindl · 6/10 · 11 October 2022]

There's definitely a decent story here, and pretty strong character development. It wasn't at all boring, in my opinion. The rising tension is done effectively, and we believe every decision each character makes. Also, the ending was appropriate and not overly contrived.

It did at times, however, feel like the actors were kind of *playing* at being country bumpkins with a tough start in life. That is, the acting didn't feel entirely authentic. The actress who plays Paula, for example, went way over the top with the melodrama. I was rolling my eyes at her a little by the end. I felt similar about the actor who played Noel. Just a little too much screaming and kicking when a bit more subtlety would have been much more effective.

It made me think of the movie Affliction, an indie drama from (I believe, without checking) the '90s, starring Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. It's the same kind of themes but much better acting. Anyway, Black Fly is a decent watch even if it's a bit forgettable.

A fun trip to crazytown island

[mattmusko · 6/10 · 22 October 2020]

Apparently this film is inspired by true events so that may be the reason why there aren't any crazy "twists" to speak of. The casting and pacing is good and the production value high. It doesn't really add anything new to the "redneck loses his marbles so let the massacre begin" genre but I found it entertaining despite not caring much for any of characters. The younger brother protagonist is nice enough but not much time was devoted to his backstory nor did he do that much to be super likeable IMO. He was nice enough and obviously going through tough times but I didn't feel compelled to root for him. The girlfriend was a neurotic mess who would probably jump off a cliff if told to do so. The antagonist older brother was acted out just fine but at the end of the day he was basically just another easily triggered psychopath with zero empathy. If you subscribe to a video service that includes this then ypu might want to give it a go but I wouldn't spend money to rent it. 6 stars from me.

Okay, not great.

[tamarahay · 6/10 · 5 June 2019]

Came across this in my prime movies based on my preferences. Yes the cinematography catches detail but all I was honestly left with was questions and feeling unsatisfied. I guess if you have an hour and a half to be occupied this will take up your time.

Don't waste 90 minutes on this - starts boringly and doesn't get much better

[hippyhorn69-1 · 6/10 · 6 April 2021]

One sort of groans when the phrase "Inspired by true events" or some such is emblazoned within the precis of a film. You know that there's a 75% chance of it being boring, apart from the bits that take a tad of artistic license. This film falls easily into that 75%. I mean basically you know what happens if someone hacks off a multi-gun owning slack-jawed yokel nut job, by boffing their partner or in any other way - death - and, of course, it does happen, several times in fact. To make matters worse, there are several loose ends with unanswered questions. Don't waste 90 minutes on this - starts boringly and doesn't get much better The only good thing about it is that it says a lot for tightening gun laws.

Wasted time

[fmwongmd · 4/10 · 6 August 2019]

Poorly scripted, lots of no séquitos, overly violent and gratuitous sex.

Blackfly still resonates.

[shelley-janze · 8/10 · 9 May 2018]

I saw this indie feature over a year ago, and I still think about it. That means it's a good thriller. Gritty and suspenseful, and you don't know what's going to happen next. The characters are well thought out, and believable. Cinematography captures the environment so well that you feel everything. Jason Bourque has a well written script, superbly directed, and the actors were brave enough to go to some tough places! You won't be disappointed.

88 Minutes of Tense Mayhem

[deager · 8/10 · 11 May 2019]

From the opening yelling to the ending shocker this movie gives you 88 full minutes of edge of your seat intensity. Smart, quick, well managed film making. Hardly a flaw in the whole thing. If you do not like violent people, violent times, innocence gone awry in the hope of redemption, violence solving your problems in a twisted sort of way then this isn't your movie. But, if you have 88 minutes to spare for some damn good movie making then this is it!

Black Fly delivers...

[ihiconsulting · 8/10 · 9 October 2014]

Black Fly is very well photographed and the pacing sustained and fast paced throughout, as is the sound (music) and general escalating mood of tension. I liked the subtle shift at the midpoint and the overall atmospherics. Some excellent 70s style suspense (And Soon the Darkness, Deliverance) and great tracking camera work.

There is also a real Steve Railsback/Charlie Manson/Helter Skelter quality to this and a Polanskiesque motif and feel. They also borrowed some Kubrick techniques and used to great affect.

Black Fly captivates and the scenes fly by seamlessly. Dramatic ending and twist. Even though we knew what was coming…it did not matter.

Some good actors here on their own merit. All three leads. Great editing and direction. I want to see more features from this Director. Well made and delivered from a good story; Contemporary, fast paced 'Thrillers' are clearly his direction for the future.

Bloody Good!

Seat Gripping Thriller that pulls you into it's tangled web

[jbleroux · 9/10 · 13 October 2014]

Jason Bourque's script is masterfully executed under his direction by his talented young cast; Dakota Daulby, Matthew MacCaull and Christie Burke. The cinematography helps set and keep the dark foreboding mood in which the small town setting almost becomes suffocating.

As the movie progresses you are pulled deeper and deeper into the twisted web that is the lives of these beautifully broken people. And the pace quickens with masterful editing by Rob Neilson until the last chilling frame.

Bourque's film is not for the faint of heart. While not gratuitous in sex or violence it's rawness certainly pulls no punches. Black Fly is a very satisfying dark thriller which should be on fans of the genre must see lists.

Great

[aratron-00391 · 9/10 · 12 January 2021]

Real life horror. Suspenseful and gritty. Dont listen to the poor ratings. This film was an excellent thriller with good performances very well done despite the low budget. I would like to see more from this director.

Roller-coaster would be an understatement

[labng · 8/10 · 18 October 2020]

I just happened across this searching for something to stream. This was so much movie for what was obviously not a big studio budget. If you've ever known someone who is just way more crazy than you're comfortable with, this will probably be traumatic. 😜 Great acting. Gritty, furious ride.

A fantastic film.

[davemthompson · 10/10 · 13 October 2014]

This movie is incredibly well put together, from the cinematography to the performances, everything in Black Fly is wonderful. It's honest, layered and I was thoroughly immersed, a rare feat considering the micro budget they had, and left me thinking for days after due to the excellent performances of all cast.

Matthew MacCaull, Dakota Daulby and Christie Burke give absolutely powerhouse performances, total commitment to their roles. They were fearless, selfless and impassioned.

For fans of movies like Winters Bone, Out Of The Furnace and Gone Baby Gone, Black Fly won't disappoint.

a solid thriller with lush atmosphere

[emrys-218-743705 · 8/10 · 21 January 2015]

I was quite impressed with this independent film, which was shot in my home landscape. I've met the director, and know the budget was under $1 million and was shot in 14 days. But the scope of the story was a smart match for this budget; it never felt crippled, nor low-budget. The quality was high throughout.

Black Fly is very well directed, written, acted, filmed, edited, and scored. I was deeply engaged in the narrative from the beginning to the end, worried about the characters, and not able to predict what would happen next.

The landscape was very familiar to me, and was a rich aspect of the film, whether it was the interiors of the home, the forest, or workplace scenes. It was beautifully filmed, while being honest to the landscape, and this gave a rich atmosphere to the story.

Each of the performances were strong. In particular I was engaged by the older brother's performance (Noel, played by Matthew MacCaull), who reminded me of real people I knew in my youth!

I also appreciated the theme of the story, the younger brother try to find a home which was healthy, as best as he could in a very broken situation.

An Amazing Multi-layered Thriller

[zeina-zahreddine · 9/10 · 14 October 2014]

BLACK FLY is a must-see!

The performances are breathtaking and all actors were giving 110%. The story is condensed and layered with a beautiful final twist. What drew my attention most is the amount of violence in the film that is so calculated in a way that makes it very realistic and this is in my opinion what adds to the brutality of the experience.

This is a low budget film that will go a long way because it was made with passion and talent but also with a lot of love for cinema. A dedicated team is behind it and you can see that on screen. Can't believe it was shot in 14 days!

Not bad!

[jfieldssouthpointenergy · 8/10 · 28 October 2020]

Give it a shot! Not a bad indie film. Stays intense and has that "Dileverance" backwoods kinda feel.

Such a sweet movie

[geoffreyjameslewis · 8/10 · 21 February 2015]

Stumbled upon this really sweet indie movie. You should check it out it's based on a true story. Small town action horror suspense thriller with a sweet villain, you love him you hate him you love him you hate him more, you really hate him then you love him again. Im trying to write a review that doesn't spoil it for you. It's one of those indies that could be a movie you go see in theatres, it has a bit of a killer joe feel to it. Really well told, stellar acting, sweet directing, cool shots and some "OMFG" scenes. It just did some festivals so might not be hitting theaters for a little while but when it does go check it out you'll love it.

Must See Canadian Film

[okanaganguys · 10/10 · 19 October 2014]

This film was the highlight of the Vancouver Film Festival. It had the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time, and the gradual build up of tension culminated in an ending that was very skillfully put together.

The story line is compelling, with audience's sympathies shifting from character to character as the complexity builds. The plot also brings to mind Margaret Atwood's Survival in that the dual themes of survival and victimhood play themselves out in a fashion that puts this work solidly in the pantheon of Canadian literary classics.

I'm looking forward to more work from this director.

Relentless

[roberto_cavaliere · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

Masterful in concept, acting, execution. You cannot look away. This is a high caliber movie in every way, every shot, every nuance -far more than meets the eye. I am amazed by what I saw. Perfect delivery in every scene.

Dark, Gritty, Intelligent Thriller

[fordfischer-876-358960 · 10/10 · 30 May 2015]

Black Fly is certainly not for the faint of heart, but anyone with a craving for for raw and gritty thriller is in for a treat. Borque's script is intelligent and multi-layered, and the actors are convincingly terrified, or terrifying.

While boasting a raw style, the cinematography is subtly masterful, pulling the audience one step closer to the characters. The violence is similarly thrilling, but not so overwhelming as to bog down the intensity of the storyline or draw attention from the acting.

Without giving any spoilers, I'll say that the ending is thrilling (even if predictable) and absolutely worth the ride.

Particularly given the small budget, the film is impressive and a must-see for fans of gritty thrillers.