Slapface

After the death of their mother, brothers Lucas and Tom live in a run-down house. A “game” called Slapface, in which the two take turns slapping each other in the face, seems to serve as a way of coping with pain and conflict. Lucas' only “friends” are the members of a girl gang, who also regularly bully him. What also helps the young loner is retreating to a nearby forest - and delving into local myths. Lucas is particularly fascinated by the legend of the witch Virago. When he sets out in search of her, he actually encounters a monstrous creature - but instead of hurting him, a kind of bizarre friendship develops between Lucas and the creature - until it comes to bloody violence... Jeremiah Kipp's film “Slapface - Where Do Monsters Come From” combines coming-of-age drama with horror and addresses bullying, family violence and the longing to belong in a haunting way. The monster character serves as a mirror for Lucas' inner fears and desires. However, as with many stories about supernatural encounters, the question of the cost of this connection remains unanswered - and whether it really brings protection or just further danger. "Kipp successfully weaves an observant study of the cruel realities of growing up with supernatural themes, in which each complements the other. [...] Unfortunately, things only become darker for all involved as the witch [...] increasingly comes to the fore, and a scary, unexpected development midway through makes it clear Kipp will be uncompromising as he takes his story down its inevitable and distressing path. Without straining for shock effects (there are no cinematic slaps to the face here), he and his team have crafted a film that gets under the skin of both its characters and the audience." (Michael Gingold, on: rue-morgue.com)