Shiver (2013) Review

Starring: Danielle Harris, John Jarratt, Casper Van Dien, Rae Dawn Chong, Mckenzie Coffee

Directed by: Julian Richards

Written by: Brian Harper (novel), Robert D. Weinbach (screenplay)

Running time: 91 minutes

Rated: Unrated (for language, extreme graphic violence, adult situations)

Available on DVD on October 8, 2013

There’s nothing more overdone in horror these days than the serial killer sub-genre, except for maybe slasher films, but some might call those one in the same.   The film Shiver fits nicely into the serial killer niche and for once, it’s actually a welcome addition.   For me, the film did what its title suggests; it gave me the shivers on more than one occasion.  That’s quite an accomplishment since I’ve become jaded and desensitized to these things over the years; it’s really hard to give me the creeps.  There are a few scenes in Shiver that I found truly disturbing and some nasty cringe-worthy moments of horror.   The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by award winning author Brian Harper.   I have not had the pleasure to read the source novel yet, but after seeing the film, I will definitely have to seek it out.

A serial killer called the Gryphon (John Jarratt-Wolf Creek, Rogue) has cast the entire city in a cold grip of fear as several young women have been savagely murdered.  The killer not only settles for killing his victims, but also takes a grisly trophy from each of them for his collection.  The police, led by Detective Delgado (Casper van Dien-Sleepy Hollow, Starship Troopers) are at a loss on how to catch this super smart killer.   The Gryphon targets the shy, young secretary Wendy played by Danielle Harris (Hatchet II & III, Stake Land) as his next victim, but gets more than he bargained for as she escapes his assault.   This only deepens his twisted obsession – and desire – for her.  Now, under police protection, Wendy is finally safe – or is she?  The cat and mouse game really begins as nothing will stop the Gryphon from getting what he wants, to make Wendy part of his macabre collection.

I found Shiver to be a refreshing take on the serial killer motif, one that isn’t trite or derivative for a change.   I really enjoyed the characterization the leads of Harris and Jarratt brought to their roles.  They both are believably resourceful and smart while each imbue their character with a certain style all their own.   Needless to say, the performances by the two are simply amazing.  Harris delves deep down into her emotions and summons a remarkable portrayal for Wendy, one that had to be taxing and physically draining.  Harris has to endure some truly terrifying stuff in this film and I believe this is her most sincere and finest work yet.  Jarratt is also at the top of his game here as the Gryphon.  His killer is the everyman you might find passing you on the street but hides a horrifying secret.   He’s brutal, uncaring, vicious and extremely smart – a deadly combination.   Van Dien’s cop portrayal is nothing out of the ordinary for him; it’s a role he fits into nicely.

The director, Julian Richards did a wonderful job giving the film a gritty feel to it.  It’s dark, bleak and was shot very well.  The budget was around $4 million for this film, but it looks like it was made for much more than that.   I did have a problem with the lighting in some of the office scenes, it looked far too dark to be a believable office environment, but that’s a minor objection.  The rest of the film looks fabulous.  As I said earlier, there were a few scenes I found very disturbing and got under my skin which I just loved about it.  I don’t like to watch comfortable films, I like to be challenged and I like to be scared, so if something makes me a little uncomfortable and makes me squirm in my seat then all the better.  Shiver has some pretty good gore gags in it; it’s definitely not a bloodless movie.  Gore hounds will enjoy this one, the makeup effects are great.

I very much enjoyed Shiver; it’s full of tension that only builds as the film progresses.  The Gryphon is a demented serial killer that is most memorable and played superbly, as is Danielle Harris’ leading role.  The film is not without its faults, some of the characters actions leave you scratching your head, but it doesn’t really detract from the film’s overall enjoyment.   Shiver is dark, disturbing and a hell of a freaky ride, highly recommended!

4 out of 5 Pentagrams!

Watch the trailer for Shiver here: