Written by: Ryan Dailey
Skinamarink is the micro-budget horror offering brought to the horror nation by writer/director Kyle Edward Ball and filmed entirely in his childhood home. Opting to deviate from traditional stor-telling means, and tries to recreate the feeling of a waking nightmare where the night transforms the known into the unknown.
Four year old Kevin (Lucas Paul) and six year old Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault) awaken to find their father missing and the doors and windows to their home erased from existence.
Much like Yule Log or We Need to do Something, the environment is as important, if not more so than the human characters in the film.
Despite the mid 1990’s setting of the movie, Skinamarink is very much a product of the digital age, from the director’s start making short films based on YouTube commenters nightmares to Skinamarink gaining tons of online traction from the viral trailer and a leaked festival reel mishap.
This film is one of many glowing testaments to the idea that if someone who loves and understands the genre and has fans backing them not only with encouragement, but with finances, the more creative minds can make their art and get it to the masses without having to compromise their integrity for the sake of some big studio’s profits.
The scares and atmosphere in this film are well-done and effective, albeit the impact is less and less as the run time progresses. This is a minor pitfall that falls on most micro-budget films. This does not detract from the enjoyment of the movie, however, especially if the viewers allow themselves to let Skinamrink do its job and take you on the nightmarish journey along with the children.
Skinarink showcases what great film making can be, proving that “less is more” and showing the world that story should take precedence over flashy visual effects and frivolous nudity.The story is the draw of this film, not some big name that looks good on a marque.
Skinamarink is currently showing on select screens and will be coming to Shudder sometime in the near future.