Anacoreta works far better as a drama about insecurity and strained friendships than as a horror film.
Synopsis
Longtime genre fans and filmmakers Jeremy (Schuetze) and Matt (co-writer Matt Visser) take their friends (played by Antonia Thomas and Jesse Stanley) to a secluded cabin in British Columbia to produce a single-camera, DIY horror feature.
Anacoreta Good Points
Relationship Focus
The film actually works best as a character-driven drama, as the tension between the friends and the partners is better than any of the horror elements – Probably not what you want to hear!
Lead Performances
Antonia Thomas brings a lot of confidence to her role, making Antonia easy to root for, while Jeremy Schuetze plays insecurity and ego in a very frustrating way, which is kind of what you want from that.
Dialogue
The confusion over Jeremy’s intentions keeps the conversations fairly sharp and uncomfortable.
Portrayal Of Ego
Jeremy’s need for control and validation feels recognizable, as I am sure we all know someone kind of like that.
Natural Dynamics
Friendships and old loyalties are tested, and the dynamics echo real life quite well.
Humor
Some of the funniest moments actually come from the uncomfortable conversations and failed attempts at the manufactured scares.
Daytime Cinematography
The cabin and the surrounding nature are filmed beautifully in daylight.
Commentary On Filmmaking
The movie subtly critiques low-budget horror filmmaking and the obsession with “creating moments” instead of letting them happen, which was done fine, even if it was a bit OTT at times.
Anacoreta Bad Points
The Horror, or Lack Of.
The film is marketed as horror, but the horror is minimal.
Not Enough Setup
The group dynamic isn’t really fully established before the conflict begins, and you I found it hard to really care.
Repetitive Arguments
Jeremy is confronted multiple times, apologizes, then repeats his behavior, and the cycle becomes predictable and reduces impact.
Uneven Pacing
Despite a short runtime, certain scenes do drag far too much, and some conversations circle the same issue.
Dark Night Scenes
OK, I know it’s at night, but the low lighting and handheld camerawork make it difficult to see what’s happening.
Payoff
It’s all rather muted.
Identity Confusion
The film never fully commits anything, which makes it harder to know what kind of experience it wanted to deliver.
Final Thoughts on Anacoreta
Anacoreta works far better as a drama about insecurity and strained friendships than as a horror film.
If you go in expecting an relationship story with light genre elements, and not a cabin-in-the-woods experience, you might get something out of it.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
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