Looking at: Horns

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Promo wallpaper for the film, showing the titular horns.

Novel idea

I haven't read the Joe Hill novel that Horns is based off of, so this is a completely unbiased opinion of just the film. I suspect that the book probably does the story more justice then the movie does, Horns just feels like the kind of story better presented in book form, since the movie has to keep things moving at a rapid pace, much like John Dies at the End, The Road, or Harry Potter.

Fittingly, Horns stars Daniel Radcliff, doing his absolute damnedest to shake off his Harry Potter look. This time around he's a chain smoking, foul mouth radio DJ named Igg Perish, that's been accused of murdering his long time girlfriend. After a drunken night and some regrettable acts he awakes to find two small horns growing out of his head. He quickly discovers that the horns make people want to tell him about their innermost desires, often asking him whether or not they should embrace their darkness. Igg decides to use this new power to find the real killer of his girlfriend Merrin and clear his name, all while working out some demons of his own.


Time in the flame

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Radcliff's Iggy Perish becomes more interesting as the Horns grow larger.

The film jumps around a bit, with extended flashbacks to Igg and Merrin's past. It's attention to character building and northwest American backdrop would feel right at home in a Stephen King novel. It goes back and forth, slowly revealing more and more about the night Merrin was killed. Regrettably the twist is fairly easy to pick out, and you'd have to really not be paying attention to not see it. Horns isn't about the destination though, it's more about the journey, and the way it spends time building it's characters and flushing them out through flashbacks and Igg's powers is pretty cool.

It's unfortunate, then, that the cast can't quite deliver these characters. Not everyone is bad, but two many of the major characters, and a lot of the minor ones, come off as amateurish at best. Radcliff is probably the biggest transition throughout the movie, starting out as an annoying whinny looser desperately trying to sound American, but as he acclimates to his new found powers he starts to really just have fun with it, and by the time he goes full Satan it's just fun to watch. Easily the worst two offenders are the two female leads, Juno Temple is Merrin, and despite being dead throughout the movie still manages to be... not that good. I won't say she's terrible, but during one particularity emotional scene she just doesn't deliver what her character should be convincingly. Similarly,
Kelli Garner as Igg's friend Glenna is just awful, doing some downright cringe worth delivery on some lines, really pulling you out of the moment.

Look the devil in the eye

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Iggy and Merrin, enjoying a moment.

Visually,  I liked the look of Horns. I mentioned that the setting hearkens back to Stephen Kings novels, and it certainly shows in the cinematography. There are plenty of scenes in the rain-soaked forests of Washington state, along with the small town and lumber yards that make up the world of Horns. It's all shot with an air of sincerity, really making sure to look authentic and rustic.

There are some really great scenes, especially near the latter half of the movie when Igg really embraces his horns. I won't say why, but the last few minutes is an all out mixture of bizarre, insane, and awesome that I loved. Other then that the camera work is commendable, with shots being properly framed, lighting being consistently good, and everything framed nicely. Overall, a pretty good movie to look at.

Pitchfork Review

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The Devil drives a Gremlin.

Overall I liked Horns. It's attempt at character building, well placed setting, and weird mix of crime noir and biblical horror was nutty enough to get me hooked. Looking at the plot summary of the book definitely confirms my theory about this being better in book form, with loads of details being glossed over by the movie. Overall a decently fun little film, but nothing truly memorable.