The Mannequin, written and directed by Initiation's John Berardo, is having its UK premiere at Frightfest on 24 August in Discovery Screen Two, and the main question is why? Why is The Mannequin on the smaller screen when it should be gracing the Main Screen? A film full of horror, mystery, and hilarious dialogue, even if that wasn't the intention, which must be seen on the largest screen possible.
When stylist assistant Liana (Isabella Gomez) discovers her sister dead in the downtown LA factory that they have just set up shop in, she realizes that the location may be more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. With a grim history of murdered women haunting the building's past, Liana begins to suspect that her sister's death may be connected to something altogether supernatural.
From its cold open presented in black and white with a special touch akin to Sin City, The Mannequin grips audiences from the first cigarette-hazed moment. With an easy-to-follow story and a small cast of relatively likable characters, this film exudes popcorn and giggles, the type of flick that's worth watching with a group and enjoying its silliness as much as the serious moments. There are also some genuinely good scares, some creeping and quiet, others in your face and obnoxious. The aesthetic of the scares is delivered successfully, with some quick shots only letting the audience see a glimpse of the horrors that the characters are witnessing. Often dwelling on the scare can retract from it, so this method of quick cut provides a successful jump and often a nervous laugh.
The only criticism of The Mannequin may be that it feels a little safe narratively. Where the build-up could have taken the film to insane moments and pushed the boundaries of the genre, the audience may find themselves a tad disheartened by the end result. Unfortunately, the story does fall a little at the last hurdle; the final act doesn't quite deliver on what was perhaps implied and promised throughout. It is, however, still a solid attempt to tackle a well-trodden subject in horror, even if it's something we've seen before quite a few times. As the jeopardy ebbs away, it's worth noting that, regardless of this, The Mannequin will be a talking point of Frightfest and is likely to receive fairly positive feedback.
The Mannequin had its world premiere at FrightFest 2025 on 24 August
