Watch Hellmouth

Hellmouth is a horror movie from 2014 that boasts a unique visual style and a strong performance from its lead actor, Stephen McHattie. The film follows McHattie's character, a custodian named Charlie, as he grapples with the supernatural and the demons of his own past. Directors John Geddes and Tony Burgess create a visually stunning world that is both eerie and bizarre.

The premise of Hellmouth is simple enough: Charlie is tasked with cleaning up a mysterious basement, only to uncover a portal to Hell. From there, the movie takes a series of increasingly strange and nightmarish turns, as Charlie confronts his own demons and the creatures that lurk in the underworld. The script, written by Burgess, is often enigmatic and surreal, creating a sense of unease that persists throughout the film.

One of the strongest aspects of Hellmouth is its visual style. The film makes full use of practical effects and set design to create a world that feels eerily off-kilter. The basement that Charlie inhabits is particularly impressive, with rusty pipes, flickering lights, and a claustrophobic atmosphere. The monsters that Charlie encounters are also striking, with grotesque designs that are both disturbing and strangely compelling.

Despite the bizarre and often surreal nature of the story, Hellmouth is anchored by a strong performance from McHattie. His portrayal of Charlie is both sympathetic and unnerving, as he grapples with his own flaws and the horrors that he uncovers. Siobhan Murphy also delivers an impressive performance as Charlie's ex-girlfriend, who serves as a symbol of his past and a figure of redemption.

The film's pacing and structure are somewhat uneven, however. The first half of the movie is slow and deliberate, as the directors build up a sense of atmosphere and dread. The second half, by contrast, is often chaotic and confusing, as the story takes increasingly bizarre turns. While this approach may be deliberate, it can make the film feel disjointed and hard to follow at times.

Another potential issue with Hellmouth is its use of symbolism and metaphor. While the film is clearly striving for a deeper meaning, some of the symbolism can feel heavy-handed or confused. The themes of redemption and salvation, for instance, are touched on but never fully explored. Similarly, the use of a clown as a recurring motif is intriguing but can feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the story.

Overall, Hellmouth is a unique and visually striking horror movie that will appeal to fans of surrealist and experimental cinema. While the pacing and symbolism may be a bit uneven at times, the film is anchored by an impressive performance from Stephen McHattie and a strong sense of atmosphere. If you're looking for a mind-bending journey into the underworld, then Hellmouth is worth checking out.

Hellmouth is a 2014 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.