At first glance, writer-director Frank Merle’s Namaka seems to be a departure from his usual horror-thriller titles. However, the Hawaii set fantasy actually falls in line with the man’s oeuvre, especially once the credits start to roll. So the director has a distinct style and theme that comes through, but is the film any good?
Alex (Jason Markoff) and his wife, Erica (Erin Killean), are heading to Hawaii because her brother and sister-in-law just had a baby. In order to “not look like a tourist,” the musician dons a hat with a camera in it, much to the amusement of his wife. Once there, Alex films much of the goings on of his in-laws. But he also needs some time to himself, so he winds up in the woods. It is here, while strumming his ukulele, that he meets Namaka (Ash Tsai). The young woman seems distressed, so Alex follows her only to find a dead body. While she runs off, he calls the police, but the corpse is gone. Startled and confused by the event, Alex turns to Guy, a supernatural radio program host (Jamie Kennedy), who specializes in Hawaiian history. But no matter how hard he tries, Alex cannot shake Namaka from his mind. As if by magic, she shows up again and again, each time more loving and desperate. Who is Namaka? Why can no one else see her? What are her intentions with the married Alex?
While Namaka runs a mere 94 minutes, the first half is all set up. It takes a long time for Namaka and Alex to meet a second time and for their relationship to escalate. This makes the first 45 minutes a little dull. The characterizations are solid, and the intercutting of the regular camera and Alex’s hat camera footage is great. But nothing happens.
“…no matter how hard he tries, Alex cannot shake Namaka from his mind. As if by magic, she shows up again…”
Thankfully, the second half more than makes up for it. As things between Namaka and Alex heat up and her goddess-tinged backstory is discovered, the tension rises considerably. It helps that Markoff and Tsai are great together. She’s enticing, scary, and loving. He’s affable and charismatic. It is easy to understand what each person gets from the other… well, at least what mortals would get from it anyway.
Christina Hogarth’s ukulele music is excellent. It adds whimsy while not detracting from the more thrilling aspects of Namaka. The cinematography by Richard Trejo is lush, yet also effectively captures the creepier elements of the island. The tone does vacillate between the fantasy-tinged thrills and comedy, but the two mesh well. However, a few story beats don’t go anywhere, meaning a small number of scenes could be cut out entirely without disrupting the flow or narrative logic in the slightest.
Namaka is a fun, little fantasy thriller with a touch of comedy. The music and visuals add a lot to the atmosphere, even when little is happening plot-wise. However, once things get going, the film is effective and engaging, in part because the cast is exceptional. This is a different kind of obsession thriller that is well worth watching.
"…a fun, little fantasy thriller with a touch of comedy."
