People are dying as a result of a serial killer being on the loose, and authorities are struggling to find the person responsible. They determine that their only course of action is to hire a psychic, Leo (Vance Clemente), to help solve the case and bring the murderer to justice. When a woman, Catherine (Samantha Strelitz), gets involved in the case, the already troubling journey gets all the more rocky. Thorns for Flowers shows the struggle of this collaborative effort as pain and suffering looms in the dark.
Thorns for Flowers is a low-budget film that has big-budget qualities. The first thing I noticed about the film was its grainy nature. The film looks old, weathered, and authentic in relation to the time period in which it takes place. This cinematic decision allows Thorns for Flowers to feel honest, and it makes the film better as a whole. There are other aspects of the film that allow it to feel bigger than what it actually is. The cinematography, score, and set design allow Thorns for Flowers to feel like it had greater funds than it actually did. This aspect of the film is a testament to how good of a filmmaker Writer-Director Anthony de Lioncourt is, because he understands the subtle but important intricacies of the process.
All of the behind-the-scenes work done by this team is truly phenomenal, and the time and effort put into this production is some of the best I’ve seen in some time. Unfortunately, however, what takes place in front of the camera isn’t on the same level as those aforementioned aspects. The acting is subpar for the most part, and the inability of the cast to appropriately convey emotion causes the film to struggle. The narrative is a little wonky as well, and the story present in Thorns for Flowers doesn’t always make sense. There are things about the story that feel out of place, inorganic, and ultimately a bit frumpy, stealing from the more intriguing plot points and causing the story as a whole to fizzle out before it really gets started.
The good things are really good, and the less-than-adequate aspects are incredibly disappointing. This mystery-thriller had the potential to do great things, especially with all of the talent present within this crew, but the thing that hinders its ability to shine the most is the acting. It’s often hard to watch the actors on screen as they just seem so far from what the production needed, and they (the majority) just aren’t fine-tuned enough to bring some of the more integral moments to life appropriately. With all of the good things I mentioned, it appears obvious that even a bit of poor acting wouldn’t be enough to pull Thorns for Flowers apart, but it’s overwhelming at times, and ultimately, as it piles on and on, the acting is the downfall of the film.
Aesthetically and audibly I’m so impressed by Thorns for Flowers. I truly can’t say enough about how beautiful this film is, and to be paired with a score that so perfectly captures the film’s intended sentiment only makes this better. I couldn’t look away as the story (one which I struggled to fall in love with) played out, because I was captivated by all of the hard work put into Thorns for Flowers in this regard. I feel like I’m repeating myself, but I can’t get over how much bigger this film feels than its likely tight budget. On one hand viewers get something riveting and enjoyable, and on the other hand things are incredibly unimpressive. So, with all of that, what viewers eventually get is something smack dab in the middle of the rating scale–something worth watching just once.
Written & Directed by Anthony de Lioncourt.
Starring Vance Clemente, Samantha Strelitz, Gary Marachek, Mark Mattson, Alissa Simmons, Patrick Kevin Clark, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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