Jake C. Young directs and stars in Souls Chapel. In this David Daring-penned weird western, Young plays Ray, a drifter trekking through Kentucky for gold. After encountering a mystical entity eager to bargain, Ray soon finds himself trudging through a snowstorm toward a church. Inside Soul’s Chapel, he meets Red (Jeremy Boggs), the priest, as well as Sister Agatha (Audri Curtsinger), School Boy (Gage Carnes), and treasure hunter Jim (Joseph McDowell).
Ray quickly senses something is wrong. As the suspicion hits, Agatha attempts to shoot him, but Ray wounds her hand instead. Red knocks Ray unconscious, wanting him alive. When he wakes, baffling questions from the others unsettle him. The others, convinced he holds vital information, grow impatient. Unfortunately for them, Ray seeks no treasure and possesses only scant knowledge about the object he was hired to find.
The artistic design of Souls Chapel is a lo-fi steampunk aesthetic. Gold-studded goggles and gear-laden guns dominate the visuals for 83 minutes. Yet, the costumes lack signature steampunk adornments. Oddly, although the art department chose the steampunk aesthetic, the story and world-building don’t require it. Still, the style fits the overall vibe, even if it’s obvious the filmmaker shopped a Spirit store closing sale.
“Red knocks Ray unconscious, wanting him alive. When he wakes, baffling questions from the others unsettle him.“
The story includes bursts of action, particularly after the halfway point, but relies mostly on dialogue. Interrogations, confessions, and revelations are the methods Daring uses to reveal characters. This prevents the conversations from becoming exposition-heavy. Instead, every relevant detail unfolds with mystery, character development, and advancing plot beats together. The script is sharp, concise, and serves as a strong example for aspiring filmmakers to discern what matters and what can be cut from a screenplay.
The acting in Souls Chapel slightly undercuts that cleverness. Though no performance is poor, a modern delivery style breaks the period illusion. This could be due to the fast line delivery or sarcastic tones. Still, the actors are engaged, each having moments that shine. Yet, none consistently inhabit their roles.
John Donavan and Rollin Jarrett’s music is fantastic. The atmospheric score and songs match the mood perfectly. Hazy, mystical cinematography gains an ethereal edge from the music. Every note reinforces the onscreen action.
Souls Chapel is an interesting story told by a cast who is clearly trying. The directing is strong, and the music is perfect. The art design will attract a certain crowd, and its weirdness will delight viewers.2
For more information about Souls Chapel, visit the MTS Pictures site.
"…a strong example for aspiring filmmakers to discern what matters and what can be cut from a screenplay."
