You pulled The Change and The Changed, some of my submissions to the Trans Trading Card Collection started by @unholytgirl and @sadcoldcoffee.
I have 3 more sketched up so expect those at some point. But I wanted to get these two out. For those curious, The Change is Mars as we currently see her, constantly struggling with changes and her mind. Especially in these dark times, it can very overwhelming for her.
The Changed is the first detailed reveal of Mars feral form. We’ve seen it silhouetted but this is what she’s constantly fighting to hold inside. The Changed is angry, hungry, and uncaring. She wants nothing more than to be freed and to do is she wishes.
Mars is from my Eldritch HRT series that you can read here.
While jogging near the swamp in the early morning, you freeze in horror as you see a nightmarish plant creature wading up a small stream. It turns and looks directly at you and the hideous intelligence behind those eyes will never stop haunting your thoughts.
While driving through a small town deep within the swamp, you see filthy children playing in the front yard of their shack with what are clearly human bones. You drive faster.
You decide to stay inside one day as a peculiar fog rolls across your neighborhood. Others were not so wary and caught within the fog they have...changed. Once the fog retreats, they disappear with it. But you know, sooner or later, both the fog and the changed ones will return.
Your pets have all disappeared. Searching the swampy woods behind your home, you discover a peculiar hut with the bones of numerous animals scattered about it. You burn the hut to ash. That night, the dark woods are filled with the enraged screams of...something.
You awaken to find yourself restrained inside a horrifying magic circle somewhere in the woods with a swamp-witch chanting over you. You frantically struggle to free yourself but the bindings are too strong. As her chanting reaches a fevered crescendo, your body begins to warp and twist, bones snapping - stretching - reforming as thick stinking hair grows to cover your entire body. You never believed in the skunk ape, but as you painfully transform into one, you suddenly understand. And you must obey.
You find yourself standing outside the crumpled remains of your car and you can see your own dead body inside. You look down at your hands and you can see through them - you are a ghost. As rescue workers futility attempt to free your corpse from the wreckage, a bright light appears near you. You turn to the light and feel its warmth. You can see figures inside the light and they seem welcoming. You begin to walk towards the light when suddenly something hits you from the side and knocks you down. You look to where you were standing to see the light transform into the maw of a massive, spectral creature. As the great predatory beast hungrily turns to you, the ghost who knocked you down pulls you to your feet and yells a single word: "Run!"
SYNOPSIS: Kim, Mac, Kurt and Jane are sheltering in the basement where they have their neighbor Bill tied to a chair. Something has transformed their neighbors and Bill tried to assault Mac. As they debate what to do and try to understand if it's just their paranoia, the city around them is besieged by the changed. As they come to realize an alien intelligence has merged with their neighbor, their time is running out as a horde of the changed is amassing outside their suburban home.
REVIEW: From Kafka to McCarthyism, many films have addressed the idea of the other. Cinematically, a frequently remade tale is “The Body Snatchers,” the science fiction novel by Jack Finney, originally serialized in Collier's magazine in November and December of 1954. It was published as a novel in 1955 and the film adaptation hit screens in February 1956, directed by Don Siegel and released by Allied Artists Pictures. The original concept was alien spores that grew into pods that absorbed and replaced people.
In Michael Mongillo’s THE CHANGED, the alien invader is shrunken down to cellular level that is transferred via a kiss. The concept of using a kiss takes on a biblical tone as Christ was betrayed by Judas with a kiss. Given the current social climate, the idea of “the other” is a s relevant today as in the 1950’s. The plot is a demonstration of a conservation of budget as it has limited locations and characters. It is an independent film and it feels a bit like a stage production they were able to break out by using a location, a house. The narrative does not offer anything new nor does it take the opportunity to incorporate the contemporary social climate. The dialogue feels rethreaded, at times flat and has no pop.
The performances go a long way in elevating the material, but never far enough to allow the viewer to feel a connection to the characters. Likewise, there is no passion or peril being generated by the central cast members to generate any suspense or horror. Veteran actor Tony Todd is clearly cast for name recognition. Based on his many memorable characters and performance he is under utilized here as he does his best with delivering his performance mostly tied to a chair as the other characters debate what he is and what to do with him.
The production values are utilitarian. There are effects and action sequences with quick cutaways in order to save on visual and special effects. The location is fine and looks lived in and the costumes are effective. Michael Mongillo’s direction is fine and he keeps the film moving along so it never becomes boring. Again, it is a bit flat as it feels more like a stage production than a motion picture.
THE CHANGED has really changed much. I feel that the concept still offers much to be mined if it is skillfully crafted to reflect the times we find ourselves in. It’s not a bad film, it just feels like a missed opportunity as it pays more of a homage to the previous films and does not elevate the material. Likewise, we’ve seen these characters before. Ultimately, it feels like an exercise that could have more easily been addressed with a short film than a feature, which likely could have been more engaging given the format.
CAST: Clare Foley, Jason Alan Smith, Carlee Avers, Tony Todd, Doug Tompos, Olivia Freer, and Kathy Searle.
CREW: Director/Screenplay - Michael Mongillo; Screenplay - Matt Giannini; Producers - Eloise Asmuth & Taylor Warren; Cinematographer - Rj LaRussa; Score - Len Miller; Editor - Taylor Warren; Art Direction - Suzanne M. Marquis; Special Effects - Mercedes McCoy; Costume Designer - Kate Bunce
OFFICIAL: www.deepestclarity.com
FACEBOOK: N.A.
TWITTER: N.A.
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/bvF_niKItiM
RELEASE DATE: In Theaters & On Demand March 4th, 2022
**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)
Quiver has released these poster and trailer for THE CHANGED
Something has taken possession of the hearts and minds of the populace. Kim (Clare Foley), Mac (Jason Alan Smith), and Jane (Carlee Avers) try to convince themselves it’s paranoia, but before long the city is besieged by the changed. By the time they realize an alien intelligence has merged with their neighbor, Bill (Tony Todd), a horde…
Something has gained control of the people’s hearts and minds, in this Bodysnatchers-like scifi thriller, The Changed.
Kim (Clare Foley), Mac (Jason Alan Smith), and Jane (Carlee Avers) attempt to persuade themselves that it’s just paranoia, but the city is soon overrun by the altered.
A swarm of changed has gathered outside their suburban house by the time they understand an extraterrestrial…
Something has gained control of the people’s hearts and minds, in this Bodysnatchers-like scifi thriller, The Changed.
Kim (Clare Foley), Mac (Jason Alan Smith), and Jane (Carlee Avers) attempt to persuade themselves that it’s just paranoia, but the city is soon overrun by the altered.
A swarm of changed has gathered outside their suburban house by the time they understand an extraterrestrial…
