Extramundane

2020 is the subject of writer-director Joshua Sowden‘s new horror movie Extramundane complete with terrors both internal and external. Trevor (Brant Rotnem) has taken the job as the property manager at an apartment complex at the height of the pandemic. As he attempts to establish a reasonable amount of control over an uncontrollable situation, Trevor begins to uncover an insidious mystery that threatens his life and the lives of his tenants. Playing with literal and metaphorical messages, Sowden weaves a crackling tale that begs to entertain an audience.

The film opens, no spoiler alert here, as Trevor’s predecessor falls prey to a mysterious creature that resides in the basement utility room. We cut to well-meaning Trevor who is moving into his new apartment while speaking with his boss Mr. Gibson (Vinnie Coppola) on video chat. It seems that during the current rent freeze, tenants have been disappearing at night. Mr. Gibson demands a number of things from his new manager but is loathe to answer too many questions. That’s not to mention the supremely creepy maintenance man, Jerry (Craig Gellis). A former tenant, Jerry still returns to the property to perform upkeep and to skulk at pretty much everyone.

Trevor begins making the rounds of his property and first meets Bobby (Brock Jones). A costumed performer, Bobby’s employment interacting with tourists has all but dried up. We also meet the plucky tenant in unit 10, Jasmine (Cherie Corinne Rice) who benefits from strict rent control on top of rent forgiveness. Both Bobby and Jasmine share stories with Trevor of other tenants that have suddenly vanished. Trevor is worried but becomes downright concerned when he discovers a trickle of crimson liquid emanating from the utility room under the building.

Sowden really leans into his strengths during what was obviously a strange time to make a movie. We aren’t taken out of the pandemic that changed our lives. Rather we are asked to look inward at how it affected us personally and as a community. The characters talk about the sudden fear that has taken hold of the complex along with a dangerous suspicion that floats in the air. As the black-cloaked creature from the beginning of the film begins to resurface to claim more victims, we begin to piece the parallels together between a pandemic and a mysterious killer. That’s not to mention the distrust it sows.

On the surface, Extramundane is a creature feature of sorts, that plays up paranoia, loneliness, and mystery. At its heart, it is a commentary on the disconnecting effects that the recent pandemic had on already segmented communities. The film isn’t the picture of perfection, but Sowden‘s script is a well-crafted piece of horror and mystery. Extramundane is also populated by likable, believable characters. This goes a long way in convincing an audience to go along for the ride.

Extramundane is one of the better indie movies to surface in a while. Sure it falters a bit with the climax, but the journey is a well-constructed, nicely performed bit of indie horror.

7 Out Of 10