Stricken
Reviewed by: Maggie Roberge
After the brutal suicide of her father, Sarah Black tries to go about her normal life and forget her grief. However, she finds herself plagued by horrific nightmares and terrifying visions of disasters to come. After a nerve-wracking incident at the nursing home where she works, Detective Aro comes in to investigate. Aro has been following a string of killings which all share a common thread with this latest incident. As he and Sarah try to uncover the truth, they’re both taken on a psychological thrill-ride through superstition and folklore with a staggering twist at the end.
This is easily one of the best independent films I’ve ever reviewed. Matt Sconce’s ingenious writing and cinematography weave an intricate storyline that keeps the audience riveted, shocked, thrilled, and even touched. There was a copious amount of computer imaging used, which was superb for an independent production. David Fine and Stephanie French make a stellar pair. David Fine has starred in many other films, mostly supporting and starring roles, or as evil villains. Here however, he makes an excellent hero, helping Stephanie’s character in a meaningful and caring way. Stephanie French as of now has not had a long movie career, but seeing this movie, viewers would think she had been acting all her life. Stephanie does a beautiful job as the main heroine, with a realistic and believable performance.
All in all, Stricken is a must see film. It really delivers with thrilling storylines, well-rounded characters, and an intimate look into Irish folklore. This movie truly deserves a theatrical release, and the entire cast and crew deserve a lot of credit for a truly gorgeous film.
Director, Writer, Filmed by: Matt Sconce
Run Time: 90min.
Starring: David Fine, Stephanie French, Christina L. Tellifson, Fragino M. Arola
https://www.strickenthefeature.moonfruit.com
On March 1st Warner Bros./Gravitas released Matt Sconce's Stricken on 15 million televisions via On Demand. In addition, if you live in or near Fresno, California, you have three chances to see the film during that town's Rogue Performance Festival.
Stricken was written and directed by Matt Sconce and stars David Fine and Stephanie French. Its synopsis follows:
After her mother's death and her father's brutal suicide, 25-year-old Sarah Black fears she is losing her grip on reality. She is haunted by nightmares and terrifying visions, and she can't shake the feeling that something evil is about to find her. When people she cares about start to die, Sarah believes she may be next. Detective Scott Aro has been investigating a string of murders for 10 years, but nothing he has seen can prepare him for what lies ahead. As hope seems lost, the two must face the evil that has been unleashed and battle to stay alive as they discover some things don't stay dead. It waits in the dark…
During its first 90 days of release, look for Stricken on Charter, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Rogers (Canada), Dish VOD, Mediacom, Suddenlink, RCN, Eastlink Communications, Bresnan, Frontier, Wave, Blue Ridge, Atlantic Broadband, Bend, Access Communication (CCSA), HTC, Click, Hargray, Cincinnati Bell, Source Cable (CCSA), NorthwsTel Cable (CCSA), Bluewater (CCSA), Seaside (CCSA), NTELOS, James Valley, Enhanced Telecom, and Cable Cable (CCSA).
Assuming it does well enough to move forward to iNDEMAND, in its second 90 days Stricken will appear on Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Brighthouse; and after that it hopes to move to other online media like Netflix and Hulu Plus.