Moon Garden
Ryan Stevens Harris' Moon Garden is the type of film that doesn't come around very often. It's a small, personal production doing committed dark fantasy, a film that was destined to fade into obscurity the moment it was released. And so, it is very easy to miss, blink and you wouldn't even know it existed. For films like these, you need a bit of a social network to help you out. A few extra pairs of eyes guarantee films like these don't slip through the cracks. It's a good thing then that someone caught this one for me, as it's the kind of film that is right up my alley.
Check the credits and you'll see Harris is much more than "just" the director of this film. He also wrote the script and was heavily invested in the art department. I wasn't surprised to see his name plastered all over the place, as Moon Garden breathes passion project. It's the only way a limited-budget project like this can come to fruition, you need a clear vision and the skills to execute it without having to throw a bunch of money at it. Few directors manage to make it work, but those who do often end up with an absolute gem of a film, which is the case here.
The plot revolves around a small-scale family tragedy, which forms the basis for a much bigger adventure set in a fantastical realm. It would be easy (and a bit unfair) to call it a darker take on Alice in Wonderland), whereas the execution puts it much closer to films like Jeunet's The City of Lost Children, maybe mixed with a touch of Jamin Winans' Ink and Tsukamoto's Tetsuo. Not to raise people's expectations too much, but it's exactly the niche where Moon Garden belongs, and I think it snugly fits in with the films mentioned.
When Emma catches her parents fighting for the umpteenth time, she runs down the stairs, trips and falls and she ends up in a deep coma. Her parents are beside themselves with fear and regret, meanwhile, Emma wakes up in a world somewhere between the living and the dead. With her, a faceless creature awakens and begins to pursue Emma. All she can do is run, luckily there are also people around who are willing to lend her a helping hand. She won't be able to run forever though, and facing the demon may be the only way to escape her barren situation.
A film like this relies heavily on the execution of its fantasy world, and with little money to burn, that means there was a strong need for a talented crew to bring this task to completion. Luckily, Harris found those people, while also taking on part of the burden on himself. The film looks spectacular from start to finish. Smart use of sets, engaging camera work, tight editing, lovely color work, and stark lighting. Moon Garden uses every visual trick in the book to pile on the atmosphere and the result is nothing short of stunning.
The soundtrack is a very neat extension of the visuals. It's not the most distinctive or unique music, but it oozes atmosphere and it never shies away from its responsibilities. The score here is an essential part of the experience and it is treated as such, that alone is already rather refreshing. I'm not sure if the slowed-down pop song was all that necessary, it's a dying trend after all, but at least the execution was there. It's just a minor critique, overall I loved the music and the way it combined with the visuals to create a blissful audiovisual experience.
The performances aren't quite up to par, though Haven Lee Harris makes for an excellent lead. Her striking features help shape her character, which is useful as there isn't all that much to her role. The parents are decent enough, but it's obvious we're not dealing with A-listers, which takes away from the drama just a little. The other actors are all stuck in very rough, restrictive parts and the villain is mostly computer magic. It's not a cast that is going to win any prizes, then again, it's not so much about their characters as it is about the journey they undertake.
The setup of the film isn't too complicated, there's a little subtext that shouldn't be too hard to uncover, and the themes are anything but elusive. But it's all just a layer on top of a beautiful, fantastical adventure. Once Emma begins her journey, the film moves from beautiful set piece to set piece, and there's something new and wonderful to discover every five minutes. In that sense, it is very much like Alice in Wonderland, only more geared at more hardened genre fans. This isn't a film you're not watching for its destination or the twists and turns along the way, the journey is paramount.
Films like Moon Garden don't come around too often, which makes it even harder to stomach that they can be so difficult to track down. People who prefer more narrative features should probably skip this one, hardcore genre fans who care about mood and creativity will find something to their liking here. The excellent cinematography combined with a lush score, a dedicated crew, and impeccable technical skills make this film a fantastical adventure like no other. I hope Harris can consolidate budgets for his next projects because he is exactly the kind of talent cinema needs.