WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS // "FAREWELL" // BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL 2020 FILM REVIEW
Horror movies with an all-black cast seem to be a rarity these days, so I was thrilled to see that the film FAREWELL (not to be confused with the 2019 Awkwafina film The Farewell), selected as part of the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival, had not only an almost all black cast but also a black writer and director. And the eerie trailer had me tense and on the edge of my seat. Even though the film ultimately doesn't hold up to its early promise, it doesn't stop it from being an often refreshing and enjoyable ride.
K.D. Chalk stars as Grace Charles, a novelist who is overworked and deep into a new writing project. She has a loving husband in Chance (writer/director and real life husband Chris Chalk), who tells her how he'll be at her side no matter what. It's also apparent early on that his writing career hasn't quite gone as well as hers and he hopes for more. She's taken a job that will take them both out of the country, but before they do that, they drive out to their friends Remy (Eden Marryshow) & Mila's house (Cesa Pledger) in the middle of nowhere for an Anniversary/Send-off party. Several of their friends will also arrive as the night progresses, including a lesbian couple with a secret (Natalie Woolams-Torres, Chantal Nchako) and Chance's cousin and her terrible spouse (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut and Byron Bronson). They drink, smoke some weed, and play games as the sun sets. But as strange "presents" start piling up in the house, the group of friends find themselves in a twisted game where they are the prey and begin to be hunted one by one.
FAREWELL features a fantastic cast and the chemistry between them is great. It truly seems that they have known each other for years. With the exception of a couple of people (like Chance's cousin Stacey and her spouse Doug, who are both pretty terrible people), every character exudes a lot of charm and humor (Chantal Nchako's Kit also has a truly scary side brimming below the surface). The first half hour or so of the film breezes by, with so many quotable lines (like "Bringing Brooklyn to the Burbs") and solid character development. It isn't until the horror starts that things start to go downhill. Writer/Director/Star Chris Chalk shines as an actor, charming and relatable (and when his character is temporarily sidelined, his presence is sorely missed). It's clear that he knows how to set up a lovely still shot and write great dialogue in the friends/party scenes. What's not nearly as strong is the action itself.
Almost all of the kills happen off screen, which can be effective (remember Michael Madsen's famous dance sequence in Reservoir Dogs? It was even more gruesome not seeing it). However, this seems less of a choice and more of not having the ability to shoot a believable kill scene. The characters also seem to know they are in a horror movie immediately instead of experiencing the horror around them and reacting to it (There's honestly no reason someone shouldn't have tried harder to leave the house immediately). Multiple attacks happen the same way, making the attacks more eye-rolling than scary. And the action (and plausibility) of the hunt is more confusing than thrilling. As people die, the reactions from those still alive aren't always believable (one death involves their loved one walking by their freshly killed body with more of a shrug, literally making me slap my forehead). It isn't until a final act twist that the creativity seen in the beginning of the film returns.
It's clear of the talent involved, as many of the cast give great performances. K.D. Chalk is warm and charming, turning in a great performance. Eden Marryshow is equally strong with his caring and charming supportive turn. The characters of Stacey, Doug and Mila are a bit too broad on the page, but the actors are all strong on screen. I think Corey Chalk shows great promise as a filmmaker here (this is his first film behind the camera) and with a more tightened script and sharper attention paid to his action scenes, his films will be able to deliver as much horror as they do charm. FAREWELL is a mixed bag, but still definitely worth a watch.
The Bentonville Film Festival Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on promoting underrepresented voices of diverse storytellers. We want to amplify female, LGBTQ+, people of color, and people with disabilities in entertainment and media. We do this through research, education, and supporting the production and distribution of inclusive content.
GRADE: B-
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Chris Chalk STARRING Chris Chalk, K.D. Chalk, Eden Marryshow, Cesa Pledger, Chantal Nchako, Natalie Woolams-Torres, Byron Bronson, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, Zach Stetson, Ysmael Reyes. Selected as part of the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival. For more information: https://bentonvillefilm.org/artists/farewell/