New horror film Sator, from debut filmmaker Jordan Graham, took seven years to reach fruition. Inspired by real-life, Sator is an incredibly personal story. In the summer of 1968, Graham’s grandmother created the titular supernatural being Sator. This entity would eventually torment her so much that she would end up in a psychiatric hospital. Graham chanced upon his grandmother’s history by accident, but once uncovered, he decided it was a story he had to tell. She even features in the film as she recounts chilling stories of Sator’s torments direct to camera.
From here the film opens up into a creepy woodland-set supernatural horror, one that sees a broken family stalked by a dangerous creature that is trying to claim their souls. With minimal dialogue, cast, and narrative structure, Graham really hones in on the world in which Sator takes place. Plenty of time is spent within the trees, amongst the flora and fauna that hides the family abode, perfectly amplifying how remote and cut-off from the world this family is. This setting sees the film transcend our world and take on an ethereal fairy-tale feel. In this type of place, the viewer can fully commit to the idea of menacing spooks and plunges the story into goosebump territory.
A slow-burn folk-lore horror, Sator unwinds itself at a rather sedentary pace. Graham takes time and attention to really build the atmosphere. It’s a move that won’t please all, but those that have enjoyed the likes of The Witch, Hereditary, or The House of the Devil, will appreciate it. By taking the time to really mariante the ill-feelings, Graham generates a chilling ambiance that festers and lingers long after the film has finished. It’s an odd sensation, and is as if Graham is honoring his grandmother’s legacy by thrusting Sator’s legend through the screen, directly into the viewer’s home, and letting him haunt them as well.
Graham is yet another creator to add to the ever-expanding list of filmmakers that have taken it upon themselves to essentially do the whole production. In addition to writing, producing, and directing, he also composed the score, and worked behind the camera before eventually editing the material together. It’s a lot of roles for one person to undertake, but a move that proves an individual has the passion and desire to make their dreams become a reality. Graham’s dreams, it seems, are dark and disturbing, the perfect concoction that horror fans will enjoy.
Sator will be available on Digital Download from 15th February & DVD from 22nd February and can be pre-ordered on iTunes here.
Sator
Summary
A love letter to family, the horror genre, and filmmaking, Sator is an impressive debut, one that will hopefully lead to grander and greater prospects.
