Slapface (2021)
Directed By: Jeremiah Kipp
Starring: August Maturo, Mike Manning, Dan Hedaya, Libe Barer and Mirabelle Lee
Plot Summary: Lucas (August Maturo) and his older brother Tom (Mike Manning) are now living together after the sudden death of their parents. As a way to cope, the brothers play a strange game called Slapface, in which they purge any negativity by striking each other. Lucas, an already isolated child, is bullied by a group of girls on a daily basis. One day, Lucas encounters a witch in the woods that has the power to help him with his tormentors. But is this wicked hag real or all in his imagination?
From the outset, it should be noted that Slapface is a film that attempts to use the horror landscape to tackle the all too real nightmare of childhood bullying. Oftentimes, even simple name calling can leave deep scars that can last a lifetime. I think that done correctly, this kind of theme can be used incredibly effectively within the built-in framework of the genre. Indeed, the movie is an at times icy and remote meditation on not only bullying but also trauma and loss. More broadly, it also examines the familiar ties that not only bind but can downright suffocate.
Watching this a second time allowed me to really appreciate just how thoughtful the director is in crafting a consistently creepy mood and how it fully commits to its metaphor in a way that never feels overwritten or silly. For the most part, the themes are threaded throughout the plot nicely. Like my favorite kind of horror, the filmmakers don’t feel the need to completely hold the viewer’s hand, and some elements are left vague by desire. For example, we never get flashbacks to how the brothers were before their parents’ untimely death. We are left with the husks of what the characters have become in the aftermath. However, as much as I applaud not having everything perfectly laid out, I do think there are story beats that feel rough-around-the-edges, and the world-building is not as complete as it could have been. The movie also tips its hat a bit too much on the supernatural side, rather than keeping it more open to personal interpretation.
As it stands though, the movie hits home what it’s trying to say in a way that is meaningful and pulls zero punches. I have to really give Kipp a lot of credit for tackling some heavy issues in a way that feels fresh and authentic. A big part of what makes this movie really effective is also its look. Using stark lighting, golden magic hour photography, as well as some truly incredible fall exteriors, Slapface impresses with a pulpy folk horror feeling that shines with a sinister beauty. Clearly, there was a lot of attention paid to establishing a visual mood that fits perfectly with its overtly bleak plotline.
I’m always nervous when a movie centers on a younger actor. Thankfully, lead actor August Maturo (who has been acting since age five) knocks this out of the park. Maturo’s character, Lucas, is tasked with carrying a lot of the films emotional weight and handles the material with a maturity that is impressive. Mike Manning plays his older brother, Tom, and like Maturo is tasked with portraying someone whose life was completely destroyed by tragedy. Maturo and Manning feel like real brothers and the two play off each other well. Libe Barer and Mirabelle Lee are also fantastic. Veteran actor Dan Hedaya is as always great in a small but memorable roll as a gruff but well-meaning Sheriff. Slapface is not a perfect film, but I think it does a great job at showcasing the horrors of bullying and loss, but in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or absurd. While it never completely changes the game, Slapface is a haunting force to be reckoned with.
Slapface is currently available to stream on Shudder.
Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.