Review: ‘The Power of the Strike’ draws upon Giallo influence for a dark revenge tale
Filmmaker Dima Barch uses classic techniques for a surprising watch.
When you walk into a Giallo film, you expect a few things: stylish, gory setpieces; vibrant mood lighting; and a bit of mystery. With his new short film, The Power of the Strike, director Dima Barch lifts a few of these elements for a neo-Giallo fantasy that’s both striking (pun intended) and terrifying. It’s a high-voltage descent into revenge and retribution—decorated with gruesome violence and mangled body parts.
Robert Milan Knorr plays Alex, a young man who awakens in a miniature bowling alley and must face an abuser from his past. A voice over the intercom instructs him to a console where he pushes a button to reveal a bound and gagged Rick (Grego Belau), shirtless and groaning for his life. Throughout the film, Alex contends with getting even and holding onto a sense of self. Gun in tow, he must make a choice. The voice eggs him on, pushing him closer and closer to the edge.
Barch utilizes split screens to piece together the story from different angles, a creative decision that gives the short a bit of sophistication. Close-ups draw you further into Alex’s mind, as he collapses from the weight of what he’s forced to do. But it becomes an act of real survival when two young men arrive to further heighten the heart-pounding stakes.
The Power of the Strike is one of the most impressive indie pictures of the year. With its jaw-dropping style and bursts of gore, it’s the sort of short that deserves to be seen all over the world. When it’s over and the credits roll, you’ll be begging for more.
The Power of the Strike premieres at this year’s Soho Horror Film Festival later this month, ahead of the must-see feature Saint Drogo.
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