DIRTY BOY (2024)

3 stars

Raindance Film Festival. Raven Banner & Firebrook Entertainment. UK Premiere 22nd June

Written and directed by Doug Rao – better known as an actor – DIRTY BOY, an interesting arthouse style horror, is his feature directorial debut.

Isaac (Stan Steinbichler), a somewhat odd young man who suffers from schizophrenia, has been brought up in a religious cult, in a large house set in beautiful surroundings reminiscent of THE SOUND OF MUSIC! The females in the isolated group even break into song on occasions. GThe film was shot in Austria.

He has been locked in his room for sometime, a place with walls covered in crucifixes. He has visions of his other ‘self’, that berates him (and breathes fire) and he constantly has voices in his head. He witnesses one of the girls being ritually murdered.

The Foundation adopts young children into its flock and is run by Walter Wentworth (Graham McTavish) and his wife Verity (Susie Porter). Walter uses the ladies for his own sexual needs – especially as they are there to bear “fruit”.

One of the young females urges Isaac to run away – but he has other plans. He also has a device, which is never explained, which enables him to see things going on (of course it could be in his head?). He believes they are all being lied to, and is determined to uncover the truth.

A somewhat weird low budget indie, this is at times freaky and odd, appearing to be set in some kind of alternate universe or reality (maybe in Isaac’s head… who knows). Steinbichler is good at depicting the dual personality. An arty psychological thriller, with hints of folk horror, it is difficult to quite see who the audience for this might be – did your tastes run to slightly left field then give it a go. It will be in UK cinemas 22nd August.

Steve Kirkham