Bodies of water are a perfect setting for horror films, whether it be the eerie stillness of a vast lake or the vicious, towering waves of the ocean. The deep, dark waters can conceal dangers we can barely conceive of, both natural and supernatural if we let our imaginations run wild. Exploring the depths at FrightFest 2024 is The Daemon, directed by David Yohe and Matt Devino, kicking off Friday's Discovery Screen offerings.
The nautical horror film tells the story of Tom (Tyler Q Rosen) who, haunted by his father's suicide, travels to the remote lodge next to an expansive lake where he lived to work through his grief. But after leaving his girlfriend Kathy (Sara Fletcher) a disturbingly aggressive voicemail before disappearing, she enlists the help of her brother Mark (Oscar Wilson) and his therapist girlfriend Jess (Adriana Isabel) to track him down. When they make it to the lake house, however, they soon realise that the malevolent force that drove Tom's father to suicide has taken hold of Tom too, and is coming for everyone close to him.
The Daemon intricately explores grief, childhood trauma, and how our past and present connect to devastating effects. Tom's dwindling communication and building anger tear apart not only Kathy but his friendship group and family as a whole personifying the devastating and lasting effects suicide can have. The group's desperation is pushed to its limits as the galactic horror plaguing the shores shows its surreal powers to them all, forcing them to confront their own deep, dark secrets in a series of bizarre, reality-bending visions.
The cosmic horror at the heart of the film is a surprising element, and not at all where many would expect The Daemon to go. From its title, you may expect supernatural, demonic forces to be behind the evil lurking beneath the lake, but something far more complex is at work and the creature design and special effects that bring it to life add extra levels of fear. The Daemon plunges us into the dark, enveloping lake to come face-to-face with the creature that has ripped apart our protagonists in a mind-bending, other-worldly final act that will leave audiences itching for more. Not least because it's difficult to work out what exactly sparked this mystery curse.
While the ending leaves many questions unanswered – even posing more questions as to where exactly this creature originated, why the lake, and why this family – The Daemon is a thoughtful, eerie horror that carefully dissects our relationship with grief and how our failure to address its effects on our mental health can pass down for generations to come.
The Daemon had its world premiere at FrightFest 2024 on Friday, August 23.
