Review of Apostle (2018) by Matthew D — 18 Oct 2018

A Gothic take on cult insanity, fervor, and faith.

Apostle (2018) is like Children of the Corn meets The Witch. It felt inspired by anything from The Penal Colony to the Charles Manson murders or even H.P. Lovecraft horror stories. Apostle is as much a psychological horror as it is a spiritual drama. The slow burn pays off with body horror, gore, and violent sequences that you will certainly not see coming. Apostle offers genuine horror that disturbed me and is now burned into my brain.

The sleek and dark direction meets the pounding creepy score into a blitz of nightmares and torture. You feel the claustrophobic setting of being trapped on an island with a crazed cult. The many twists and turns were quite unexpected and impressed me with how depraved Apostle delves into humanity's worst capabilities. Easily one of 2018's best horror films.

Dan Stevens is so nuanced and intriguing as the lead. His subtle movements, vocal changes, and physical presence is fascinating to watch as his dramatic despair is a joy to witness.

Michael Sheen delivers a great performance as a cult's preacher with a clear passion for acting and performing outrageous characters with a realistic sense of humanity. I must mention Mark Lewis Jones as he really impressed me with his villainous demonstrations without spoiling anything. He is frightening and immense.

Overall, Apostle may not feature the most believable premise or the most excellent blood work, but it is truly upsetting and scary at times. The story is excellent and well executed. I think the mystery will keep you as entertained as your dread will keep you holding your breath.