Marrow

I’m not exactly the biggest horror fan, but I am a fan of smart horror, such as a slasher that isn’t all about the kills. Enter director Mitch McLeod’s Marrow, which latches onto the world of murder podcasts and stands out in an ever-growing ocean of downloads and views. Written by McLeod, Preston Fassel, and star Jessica Dawn Willis, the story centers on Jamie Foster (Willis), a once-hot vodcaster whose murder podcast, previously at the top of the charts, has sharply declined. So much so that her aunt Camilla (Danielle Harris) feels the need to visit her cabin in the forest where Jamie streams and warn her that unless “Embracing the Paradox” starts picking up views, she’s going to have to get a real job to support her “hobby.”

Barely able to sleep, Jamie is woken by an instant message on her computer. It’s from an anonymous viewer who sends her information about the whereabouts of a woman, the latest victim of strange disappearances. Intrigued, Jamie invites the viewer onto her show. He confesses that, though he had nothing to do with the disappearance, he was there in the final moments of her life and sends her the video. Bingo… Embracing the Paradox is back on the charts.

The next day, the police come by to ask about the caller’s identity and any other conversations she might have had. Of course, Jamie lies to protect her golden guest, and soon her curiosity exposes more and more of what the mystery guest has in store. That night, Jamie is visited by Dr. Jonathan Myers (Michael Ironside), who warns her that she’s about to cross the point of no return, as he accepted the same offer years ago, with irreversible consequences.

Michael Ironside as Dr. Jonathan Myers in Marrow.

“It’s from an anonymous viewer who sends her information about the whereabouts of a woman, the latest victim of strange disappearances.”

Marrow is best to watch at night in the dark, as it really plays with viewers’ heads. Our tale opens with a series of freaked-out influencer confessionals that hone in on the  main theme — it’s not about what you see, but what you can’t unsee. It’s a smart tale, as our mystery caller antagonist plays on influencers’ obsession with likes, views, and followers. He demands an answer from you about how far you will go to become a viral sensation. The horror comes from the images and videos he shows of a serial killer’s victims, the grooming of Jamie to step to the dark side, and finally, the compromises Jamie makes as her obsession for views becomes just an obsession.

Director Mitch McLeod nails the tone of Marrow. He contrasts the bright forest setting with the dark, more sinister vibe it takes on at night. He plays with our heads as much as he does Jamie with torture-porn footage without the torture—the best scares are in our heads. Even better, the answer rarely comes easy in this gem. He understands the story he needs to tell and uses film perfectly.

Speaking of understanding the story, Jessica Dawn Willis is equally brilliant as Jamie Foster and her online persona, Distal Marrow. She brings together the winning combination of hot, mysterious, and desperate, while getting dirty and bloody at the end.

By the time Marrow reaches its bloody finish line, Mitch McLeod has pushed his heroine into a corner where coming out on top comes at a price—privacy, integrity, and, eventually, skin—leading to something that will permanently etch itself into your brain.