Films told during, or made to look like, one continuous shot are nothing new; films such as Victoria and Russian Ark being just two of many. It’s not even a new gimmick within horror films with both The Silent House, and at least part of One Cut of the Dead, utilizing the story telling technique. In the wake of the success of 1917 though, it looks as if we’re about to see a whole lot of other filmmakers aiming to follow the same formula, with Jud Cremata being one of the first with his feature debut, Let’s Scare Julie.
Emma (Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson) and her little sister Lilly (Dakota Baccelli) have recently moved in with their cousin Taylor (Isabel May). Although the cousins are relatively close, Emma has yet to meet Taylor’s BFFs. Curious about what the new girl is like, Taylor’s friends, Madison (Odessa A’zion), Jess (Brooke Sorenson), and Paige (Jessica Sarah Flaum), sneak into the house whilst Taylor’s dad is passed out drunk, to play a prank on Emma. She doesn’t take the joke well, but after being talked around by Taylor, decides to give the girls the benefit of the doubt. As the quintet begins to get to know one another, conversation turns to the new neighbours across the street. Already energised from their earlier prank, Madison and Jess propose the idea of playing one on the teenage girl that lives there, Julie. Emma stays behind to look after Lilly, but no sooner have the girls gone, Paige returns alone in tears and speaking of strange occurrences in the building. Emma must then work with Paige to find out what is happening and rescue her new friends.
The one shot narrative style really works for Let’s Scare Julie, the free-form handheld camera approach adds an effective documentary, almost found footage, vibe that genre audiences are very familiar with. It feels very fly-on-the-wall and the viewer is transported inside the bedroom that plays host to the bulk of the story, casting them as a silent member of the group. There is nothing better than finding a film you can fully immerse yourself in, and by placing the audience at the heart of Let’s Scare Julie, it feels like you’re part of some super intense scare experience.
Much like Host, the dialogue, especially that in the first twenty minutes or so, feels natural and organic. Cremata, who also writes the script, captures the behaviour of teenage girls perfectly. Having once been a teenage girl myself, I can attest that the silliness and almost ‘hyped up on sugar’ energy that the girls possess is exactly what girls are like in a slumber party type scenario. Cremata doesn’t get too bogged down with exposition of the characters. It helps that this is the first meeting between Emma and Taylor’s friends and gives an organic opportunity for character exposition, but Cremata keeps it limited. The girls are a lot to take though, and with all the giggling and shrieking, you’ll do well to not be reaching for the aspirin. But that’s exactly how teenage girls can be when excited: loud and high-pitched. It’s an opening scene that works to set the scene and means that, without realising it, we’re invested in these characters before anything has even really happened.
By opting to keep the camera with Emma as she stays behind, Cremata affords the ability to build in some tension. When Paige comes back, the audience along with Emma, questions the validity of her claims. Is she just pulling another prank in the hopes of scaring Emma. Or is she telling the truth? The audience of course are aware that they are watching a horror film and know that Paige is likely telling the truth, but having been shielded from what has happened in the other house, there is that tiny nugget of uncertainty. Cremata continues to hone the suspense and sense of dread until Emma has no choice but to venture across the street. As she does, so do we with her, and that anticipation about getting over there and seeing what is happening really works to keep the audience entertained. If Cremata had instead chosen to go with the girls to the house initially then all mystique would be gone and the audience would be lost.
Though not necessarily targeted at the older more experienced horror watcher, Let’s Scare Julie taps into that Blumhouse vein of teen horror, films that operate almost as a ‘my first scary movie’ event. This generation’s I Know What You Did Last Summer or The Craft. They won’t be particularly scary to the initiated, but will generate some creepy feelings in those new to the genre. Let’s Scare Julie is destined to become a future staple at sleepovers, it has that just right balance of scares, humour, and normality, to excite, entrance and terrorise teenage attendees.
Let’s Scare Julie was reviewed at Arrow Video Frightfest Halloween. Let’s Scare Julie is released on Digital HD on 21st December.
Let’s Scare Julie
Summary
A strong future sleepover must-have, Let’s Scare Julie uses its one shot narrative style to maximum potential.
