Director Richard Griffin’s horror thriller about a demented and warped family comprised of people that simply can not leave their home is an often enigmatic, perplexing, but excellent horror film. I often found “Exhumed” to be a brilliant spin on the “Spider Baby” with a Lynchian atmosphere that worked quite often. From the black and white palette, to the intricate play with shadows, “Exhumed” is constricted to one setting, but feels as if we’re in an entirely new and horrific world.
Director Griffin integrates a lot of substance and great cinematography in to the production quality, and all of “Exhumed” feels like a fever dream. We’re never quite sure what is fueling this odd family, and why they persist in their disturbing methods of murder, and necrophilia, thus we’re led on this very unique journey that will keep audiences anxious to discover who (or what) they are. When a young traveler named Chris happens upon the isolated and closed off house, he intends to stay temporarily during his travels, and quickly becomes one in a gallery of murder victims that are bound to the house. This sets off a chain reaction of defiance and rebellion, especially among the daughter Laura, who steals his corpse and forms a delusional romance with the body.
Chris seemingly takes on life through visions Laura can see, manifesting as her repressed emotions about her desperation to break free from the unit, prompting the Governess and Butler to take action. Among the seasoned cast of rich performers, Debbie Rochon really is the stand out, providing an excellent and often stunning turn as the matriarch of this family that placates her daughters, and is vicious in her ability to commit whatever atrocities she can to keep her familial unit solid. She’s a mysterious woman with an utterly confusing back story that keeps her family consistently at odds with her. Governess has brief instances of eccentricity, but she’s a deadly character that Rochon simply owns from the moment she’s on-screen.
Michael Thurber is also quite great as Butler, the innkeeper who dotes after the women in the house, and also presents moments of sheer vicious resolve. His interplay with Rochon really provides some of the best moments of the film, and director Griffin along with writer Guy Benoit, really help the time they share on screen feel thick with tension, and pure ill intent. We can never sure how far they can be pushed until they break in to bouts of violence and murder, but when they do, it’s disturbing and effective. There’s also Sarah Nicklin and Evalena Marie, both of whom are genuine scene stealers as this pair of sister desperate to break free from the rule of Governess and Butler. “Exhumed” is a creepy, eerie, and fantastic horror film and director Richard Griffin utilizes every resource in play during filming, including the limited scenery, that help add a large sense of isolation among the characters.
