Eli (Charlie Shotwell) is sick, and he has been for some time. He has an autoimmune disorder that causes him to get sick when he goes outside or interacts with other human beings. His disorder has forced him to live in a bubble for the majority of his young life, but that is about to change. Eli’s mother and father, Rose (Kelly Reilly) and Paul (Max Martini), have managed to get him admitted to a medical facility run by a renowned Dr. Horn (Lili Taylor) in order for her to administer a cure. Once inside what Dr. Horn refers to as a “clean house,” Eli struggles with his procedure and with the plethora of beings living within its walls. What Eli and his family originally believed to be a safe haven is horrifying and will test the family, and specifically Eli’s, resolve.
Gerald’s Game is one of the more entertaining horror films that I have seen in a long time. It is legitimately scary and plays with viewers’ emotions and their minds. What attracted me to Eli is the fact that Trevor Macy, the same person who helped produce Gerald’s Game, played a significant role in the production of this film. I thought for sure that Eli would live up to whatever expectations I may have had, and that, like Gerald’s Game, I would find legitimate horror throughout the film. For the first thirty minutes or so, I felt incredibly disappointed in what was taking place. There was no suspense, there was no horror and the story seemed far from what I had expected. As the film progressed, however, the suspense, thrill, horror and intensity that was absent from the start of the film began to take over. Everything comes together at once and audiences begin to see the sort of danger that Eli is in.
There is obviously more to the story than what appears on the surface, I, however, struggled to figure out what that was. I love the fact that Eli keeps me thinking throughout the course of the story. I sat there, on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next revelation, waiting for Eli to understand what was taking place around him and delivering that information to the audience. None of the suspense and no part of the story works if Shotwell isn’t as talented as he is. He is wonderfully convincing, eerily emotional and full of life as the story of his disorder is told. Shotwell brilliantly brings to life the oddities of the medical facility that he and his parents are staying in, and the audience feels like they are in the story, experiencing the difficulties that come with his treatment. His energy in nearly every situation is infectious and provides audiences suspense and/or clarity when necessary.
The overall tone of Eli is dark and ominous, but director Ciarán Foy and writers David Chirchirillo, Ian Goldberg and Richard Niang make a decision that provides some levity and innocence in a film that ultimately diminishes viewers’ moods (to a degree). Haley (Sadie Sink), is casted in a role whose job is to make connections with Eli and keep his spirits up throughout his grueling process. Sink is best known for her role of Max in the successful Netflix series Stranger Things. It was clear when she first appeared in Stranger Things that she possessed a talent that would carry her through a life of success. While her role is ultimately different in Eli, she possesses a similar charisma that allows for both her success and Shotwell’s. The two feed off of one another beautifully, and because of this Eli finds success.
Foy attacks audiences with jump scares, intense suspense and incredible twists that intrigue those audiences and keep them guessing. Eli compares, to some degree, to modern classics like Insidious and The Conjuring in terms of its spiritual approach to horror. Like the previously mentioned films, I believe that Eli will eventually produce a cult following (maybe not to the same degree) and cinephiles will talk about it for years to come. When that success does come, Shotwell and Sink are to thank.
Directed by Ciarán Foy. Written by David Chirchirillo, Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing. Starring Charlie Shotwell, Kelly Reilly, Max Martini, Lili Taylor, Sadie Sink, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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