Watch Lifechanger

Lifechanger is a 2018 horror film directed by Justin McConnell and starring Lora Burke, Jack Foley, and Elitsa Bako. The movie follows the story of a shapeshifter named Drew. Drew can take over the body of anyone he comes into contact with as his own body starts to deteriorate. The film brings life to a unique concept of shapeshifting, and Drew's abilities are explored in depth.

The opening of the film starts off with a peculiar murder scene. We quickly discover that the killer is the protagonist Drew, except he is now wearing someone else's skin. It becomes clear that Drew's condition is worsening. He is unable to control his shapeshifting and jumps from body to body to survive. Following his driven personal struggle, the narrative covers the deterioration of Drew's mental state and the emotional toll of his experience.

As Drew jumps from body to body, the audience gets to experience the darkness of his condition. The shapeshifting remains ambiguous, and the audience is left to infer the extent of his powers, along with his capabilities and limitations. He never hesitates to murder anyone who comes in his way, which can be perceived as cold-blooded, but the story and character motives are a lot more complex than they appear on the surface.

The movie's center of attention always remains with Drew, but there are supporting characters that come into play. Molly, played by Elitsa Bako, is a young woman who Drew meets at a bar. They hit it off, and the two characters start a relationship. She is unaware of his sinister secret, but her love for Drew becomes a pivotal point in Drew's journey.

The film isn't afraid to delve into mature content, and the nature of Drew's character allows for the movie to explore uniquely disturbing storylines. Drew's internal struggle often leads to very subtle behaviour and context. The focus of the narrative is less about showing the gruesome effects of murder and more about exploring Drew's turmoil in his never-ending pursuit to end his condition.

The film's blending of the horrific atmosphere and the emotional uprooting of Drew’s character are well balanced but could seem overbearing for some viewers. The pacing may be a little slow for some, but the movie rewards its viewers with well-developed characters and an innovative take on shapeshifting.

The movie offers proficient cinematography, lighting, and sound effects to emphasize the tense and eerie atmosphere to create an overall chilling environment. Lifechanger has a unique way of keeping the viewer engaged constantly.

The audio score is mainly comprised of an eerie, unsettling sound. The score brilliantly contrasts with contrasting moments, often used to juxtapose a lighthearted moment with the violent character that is shapeshifting Drew. When the audio score reaches its height during the most intense and violent scenes, it creates an auditory sense of destruction and despair.

The film heavily relies on practical effects to stress the horror aspect of Drew's shapeshifting abilities. The practical effects used in the movie are incredibly well done, and the transformational scenes are scarier than any CGI transformation can ever hope to be. The hauntingly realistic visuals encourage a deeper connection to the chaos and desperation of Drew's character.

The movie smartly uses its storyline to keep the audience guessing. The plot is very twisty, but the audience isn't left confused or clueless. The plot and pacing have an efficient way of pacing the audience through everything being set up, and even reveals the secrets it introduces – all executed with explicit clarity.

In conclusion, Lifechanger is an intriguing horror that stands out because of its unique take on shapeshifting. The movie creates its own world and explores themes that other movies have not touched upon before. Drew is a character that keeps us invested in his struggle and makes us question what we would do to survive.

The writing highlights the moral challenges that come with Drew's condition, and the supporting character's impact shows how the horror theme could be used to highlight emotional depth. Lifechanger isn't for everyone, and it certainly requires an open mind to explore Drew's journey fully. Still, for horror fans wanting to experience something original and unconventional, Lifechanger is one movie not to be missed by any means.

Lifechanger is a 2019 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.