Ragmork

 



Director - Eric Widing (Primordial, Hellhounds)
Starring - Tim Novotny (Dark Iris, St. Gabriel), John Bradley Hambrick (Devil's Trail, Scarewaves), Geoff Burkman (The Manson Family, Babysitter Massacre)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

 

      I get sent a wide range of horror flicks to review for Horror Society.  Some are backyard horror flicks with zero budget, no experience, and a lot of imagination while others are a little more polished and from a filmmaker that has a vision and the know how to get there.  Several years ago I was sent the dark thriller Primordial for review from director Eric Widing.  I really enjoyed the movie and my review reflected that.  A few years has passed since then and Eric surprised me with another film to review recently.  This time he asked me to review his dark and benevolent horror thriller Ragmork.  Thank you Eric for remembering Horror Society and myself. 

     The film follows Viktor (Novotny) who grew up in a dysfunctional family and became an unstable adult working a 9 to 5 in a cubicle.  He suffers nightmarish hallucinations after he is attacked by a feral man named Ragmork.  Now he struggles between nightmarish hellscapes and the real world when he continues to see Ragmork even when he is not there.

       I honestly didn't know what to expect from Ragmork.  I didn't doubt I would like it but the title doesn't give the viewer any idea as to what they are going to get themselves in to.  I enjoyed it but there was a good 20 or 30 minutes where I was worried that the film was not going to be as entertaining as I would have liked.  The acting in this one is great.  Novotny does a fantastic job as the lead.  His role is very demanding but he delivers and carries the film on his back.  We also get a solid performance from Geoff Burkman as well.  Burkman is known for his roles in several films from Henrique Couto.  He controls his scenes very well and works perfectly with the remainder of the cast.  Ohio scream queen Erin R. Ryan has a small role in the film but she always leaves a lasting impression in every film she is in and Ragmork is no exception.  She is a fantastic actress that never holds back.  Ragmork is also the acting debut of Lucien Limberg who is the son of producer turned actor Jason Limberg.  Jason took the indie horror world by storm by his compelling scene in a Concept Media film where he purchased a cup of coffee.  Some real riveting stuff.  Lucien, however, is a far better actor than his father and did a fantastic job.  The story for this one is a bit of a slow build.  There was a good 20 or 30 minutes where I was concerned that this film was not going to go the distance but Eric and company kicked it into gear and finished strong.  The slow build does make use of its time for some character development but it will leave the viewer feeling as if they missed something very important due to the way the film is edited.  Don't get me wrong, the film is entertaining but the slow build and editing does make it a little confusing for some viewers.  Finally, if you want a bloody mess of a film you are barking up the wrong tree.  The film does have some blood and decent effects but the movie is a character piece that is very story rich.  Overall, Ragmork is a well made and thought out dark thriller that dabbles in paranoia and mental health.  If you want something dark and brooding then I suggest checking this one out from Eric Widing.