Indie Film Podcast Review: The Resonance

A sinister force threatens to blur the line between modern medicine and religion.

Written by Victoria Horn.

Disclosure: This review was commissioned by the filmmaker. Payment guarantees an honest review, not positive coverage, a predetermined rating, or editorial approval. All opinions are our own.

The Resonance Is Haunting and Persistent

Set in 1979, respected psychologist Sloan Campbell is tasked with taking up the mantle of a troubling case, left incomplete by her colleague Dr. Landry, in the wake of his untimely and unsettling demise. In less than 14 minutes, The Resonance illustrates the unraveling of Dr. Campbell as she works to transcribe Dr. Landry’s tapes, and better understand exactly what caused the “violent histrionics” of his last patient. Slowly she uncovers a supernatural force that blurs the lines between the psychological practices she trusts and religious beliefs that hold a deeper place in her heart and mind.

https://youtu.be/UUIZKf_SfvI

Brilliantly executed by Sashia R. Dumont and Paul Robinson, The Resonance is a masterclass in haunting stories, clever art department, and incredible performances, while illustrating the impressive power of minimalism and the importance of showing over telling. To be honest, there are so many positives in this film, it’s difficult to decide where to start first without sounding like a gushing schoolgirl. So let’s focus on what the average viewer is most likely to notice first: The visuals.

Already an intense undertaking, any period piece that’s well-executed always deserves an extra nod, and to only say that this film “looks pretty” is a disservice to everyone who worked so hard on it (despite the short credit list). Honestly, the most disappointing part of this film is the lack of art department credits to acknowledge that team properly, but suffice it to say, they went above and beyond to create a cohesive, moody world, carried through by subtle details and in perfect alignment with a cinematographic style that presented the world deeply and with authority. We have no notes.

Any review of this film would be remiss if it didn’t also focus on the spectacular performance by Sashia R. Dumont as Sloan Campbell. Without a single line of dialogue throughout the film, Dumont’s performance still managed to create an entire, realistic human, struggling through what she’s hearing and experiencing as the science she’s depended upon her whole life begins to unravel with every tape she plays. Culminating in a wild, forest-set breakdown, Campbell runs the gamut of human emotion and physicality, despite a lack of visual effects budget. The practical and camera effects, alongside this stellar performance, play as genuine and haunting, in a way very few horror films can effectively accomplish. Directed by the creative duo behind Sen3 Productions, Dumont and Robinson excel at knowing exactly what they’re after, and getting it. With Robinson expertly running camera to capture each frame, not a single moment of the compelling performance is missed.

While the film as a whole was incredible, and an absolute pleasure to watch, what sort of review would this be if we didn’t dig for a few critiques? Though difficult, some small things did detract from the film as a whole. The opening title card provides about a paragraph of backstory that felt more like spoon feeding the audience than integral to the plot. Relying on the old adage of “not trusting your audience” to understand the story did take away from the brilliant execution of this one, albeit minimally. The film itself explains what’s happening very clearly, and a simple sentence of introduction (if that) would have been more than enough to set the stage. Additionally, an early montage scene of Campbell transcribing the first tapes could have gone deeper into showing how long the night of transcription has been, or cut a little shorter. Given the perfect accompanying score, composed by by Davies Aguirre, choosing instead to show more of a descent into stress and exhaustion during this montage would have been appreciated. And yes, we’re very aware how minor these critiques really are.

Indie Film Podcast Recommends: Watch It Now!

Hopefully at this point, no readers are surprised that the Indie Film Podcast team gives this film a hard “Watch It Now” rating, and we can’t emphasize enough that this isn’t one to sleep on. Already available for free on YouTube, The Resonance is well worth the sub 15 minute watch for any horror fans, or even filmmakers looking to learn a few things about making the most of practical effects, minimal locations, and powerful performances.

Learn more about the film on Sen3 Productions’ website.