Written and directed by Tyler Russell, The Hem is a found footage horror film set mainly in an old, abandoned church. Documentarian Ann (Savannah Rae Collins), cameraman Micah (Rani Alowairdi), and production assistant Gabrielle (Jeni Robins) are interviewing people on the street about the Southside Church. Most folks they approach, though, are hesitant to discuss the place or its tragic history. The few who do discuss it openly are curt and are even defensive.
Despite clear warnings, the filmmakers scope out the church with property manager Hudson (Torren Davis). Hudson’s only rule: leave before dark. Almost immediately, the group encounters odd events such as doors closing on their own, unexplained noises echoing in the halls, and strange figures appearing behind them. What truly happened here? Are Ann and her crew safe in a place marked by so much tragedy?
“…the group encounters odd events such as doors closing on their own, unexplained noises echoing in the halls, and strange figures appearing…”
The Hem adds a novel twist to the subgenre’s formula by introducing two detectives who review footage from the documentary crew. This setup increases the tension as viewers are drawn to discover what incident led the police to launch a full investigation. The subplot deepens the mystery: one detective is reluctant to be involved, while the other gradually becomes obsessed with solving the case. Though subtle, this thread introduces enough freshness and intrigue to keep the narrative engaging.
That is not to imply that the horror happenings at the church are stale. They are well staged, and the actors sell the creepiness with verve. But Russell relies on the expected elements to scare. Yes, a number of the frights are of the jump variety, but they are effective more often than not. Plus, the part of the church that houses wedding dresses is a marvel of eerie set design. Just through the visuals of the room, things feel wrong, off, and scary. The atmosphere has been slowly getting creepier and creepier, and the reveal of this room is where it explodes in all its chilling glory.
The Hem is a found footage that works, despite its reliance on the cliches of the genre. The actors are good, and the addition of the detective subplot rounds out the proceedings nicely. Overall, this is an interesting, creepy little offering that should please fans of horror films.
"…an interesting, creepy little offering..."
