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Into the Dark: Culture Shock (2019)


Hulu decided to get into the Anthology Show craze in an interesting way. They partnered with Blumhouse to create Into the Dark, a series of mini horror features themed around holidays. I was interested, but never enough to really give it a shot.

And then October rolled around and I needed to fill a slot on my Spooky Movie Month playlist.

So, after perusing the selection of episodes, there are currently 12, I decided on "Culture Shock."

I. What Is It?

This is the story of Marisol Ramirez (Martha Higareda) and her attempt to cross the American border. This is the story of people looking for the American Dream. It's also the story of those trying to keep others from finding it.

II. Horror is Political

The best horror is horror with an agenda. It's horror with something to say. Blood and guts are dressing: real horror comes from reflecting our anxieties and fears back to us.

"Culture Shock" is about the border. It uses a bit of sci-fi trappings to explore the lengths people may be willing to go to make sure the American Dream remains the benefit of an exclusive club. And the real horror is not the sci fi window dressing. The real horror is crossing the border in the dead of night with a group of strangers, guided by terrible men who exact a terrible price. The real horror is the klieg lights of radicalized militias of American citizens hunting in the desert. The real horror is discovering that your American Dream may be coming at the expense of others' safety.

Great horror is political, and director Gigi Saul Guerrero swings for the fences.

III. Great Lead Performance

Martha Higareda is wonderful in the lead role. Her Marisol has a deep well of strength and passion. The movie rests on her shoulders, and she carries it.

And Marisol is no "final girl." She's a badass woman who these people shouldn't have fucked with in the first place. She's determined, and clever. And her decision at movie's end is both earned and canny.

Props, also, to Creed Bratton (of The Office fame) for being a slice of deliciously evil bureaucratic apple pie, and Richard Cabral for providing a brooding, dangerous, wholly authentic performance.

IV. A Little Amateurish

This movie is a bit shaggy around the edges. There are awkward dissolve transitions right out of iMovie, canned music, and some strange sound design choices. And the script is more than a bit hokey, even if the main cast do their damnedest to sell it.

V. Quick

The movie rolls in at a lean 91 minutes. It sets up stakes and characters with precision and speed. At the very least, "Culture Shock" isn't going to waste your time.

Why You Should See It

- This is horror with a message; it's thought-provoking and clever
- Anchored with an excellent lead performance and supported by a wonderful ensemble 

Why You Shouldn't See It

- It shows its limited budget more than a few times, undermining its own aspirations

In Conclusion

I haven't seen any of the other Into the Dark episodes, but, if they are all at least this good, I may need to keep watching. "Culture Shock" is timely and clever, if a bit rough around the edges.

Miscellany

- This is director and co-writer Gigi Saul Guerrero's feature debut.

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