Fantastic Fest 2015: FEBRUARY – The Review

Osgood Perkins carries on the family tradition with a directorial debut that is both haunting and enigmatic. The son of screen legend Anthony Perkins has crafted a tale told in three parts. Each titled with a girl’s name, the three chapters ultimately form a story of evil that quietly builds beneath rural banality.

I knew that FEBRUARY took place in a boarding school before seeing the film. And yet, that is the only thing that I knew. In a best case scenario, that would be the only thing you would need to know before watching the film. However, trailers, clips, and stills that appear online make it harder and harder to go into a film blind. FEBRUARY is one of those films that especially benefits from knowing very little because how the story unfolds might be the most interesting element to the film.

Perkins creates dread even out of seemingly mundane visuals. Granted, for those expecting more of a lively scare-fest, these blank walls and abandoned hallways may not come across quite as ominous; the drab and cold color pallet doesn’t help matters. But that’s kind of the point. There’s a desire to show how fiery, pure evil can emerge forth from nothing.

Kiernan Shipka is a revelation. Her blank stare becomes more and more chill-inducing as the film progresses. The whole cast adds to the dream-like  – though fever-dream might be more appropriate – nature of the film. Shipka especially though, creates a character that is as equally as complicated as downright terrifying. Her delivery of a line towards the end of the film is one of the most memorable cinematic moments I will most likely see this year.

On the surface, FEBRUARY is a disjointed art film with laborious pacing, that amounts to a random assemblage of scenes. However, the film itself plays out like a mystery that’s worth solving- not just the story. Everything comes together in the end, but the story takes its time dishing out the pieces. FEBRUARY will leave you with many questions at the outset, and more than likely will leave you with just as many after the chilling but emotional ending. Osgood Perkins delivers a confident film debut that examines the horrors of loneliness and innocence.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5