Horns[2014]

A review by Shlomoh Sherman
November 5, 2014


Horns (2013)
Plot: In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his temples.
Director: Alexandre Aja
Writers: Keith Bunin (screenplay), Joe Hill (novel)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella
Plot Keywords: death - horns - confession - sex scene - male frontal nudity
Taglines: Love hurts like hell
Genres: Drama - Fantasy - Horror - Thriller
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated R for sexual content, some graphic nudity, disturbing violence including a sexual assault, language and drug use
Country: USA - Canada
Language: English
Release Date: October 3 2014 (USA)
Also Known As: Rogovi
Filming Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Squamish, British Columbia, Canada, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, 32786 Lougheed Hwy, Mission, British Columbia, Canada (Eve's Diner Scenes)
Company Credits:
Production Co: Red Granite Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, Clairmont Camera (camera equipment provided by), Entertainment Partners Canada (payroll services), Lakeshore Records (soundtrack), Pictorvision (Wescam aerial camera system), Wildfire Studios (Adr Recording Facility)
Special Effects: Newbreed Visual Effects (visual effects), Industrial Pixel VFX (LiDAR and cyber scanning), Tippett Studio
Runtime: 120 min
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Color: Color


Storyline:
NOW!

If you want to see a really kick-ass murder mystery movie that will blow your mind, SEE HORNS!

I met my friend Lorraine at the theater and asked her which film she wanted to see and she unhesitatingly said, Horns. I really did not know anything about the movie but I dimly remembered seeing an ad about a new movie with Daniel Radcliffe. The poster looked interesting and so I said, What the hell? Apt phrase it turns out!

Lorraine and I were the only people in the theater at 1:30pm on a workday so if I didn't want to turn off my cell, I didn't have to. But I did. Before the movie started, I asked Lorraine if she knew anything about the movie. She did not but said that of all 3 movies showing, this one looked interesting. Interesting was an understatement and I can only thank her for choosing this epic film.

The story starts out with a young man being harrassed and threatened by the townspeople who believe that he is the murderer of his fiancee. The audience does not know the circumstances surrounding the murder or why he, Ig Perrish, is presumed to be guilty of killing his sweetheart, Merrin Williams.

Somewhat later in the film we learn that Merrin had asked Ig to meet her in the local restaurant where she tells him that the engagement is off and that she is leaving for California. Ig suspects that Merrin has been unfaithful to him with another man and Merrin merely looks at him and weeps. Her failure to deny the suspicion of deception convinces him that indeed she is unfaithful. A loud angry scene ensues and Ig rushes out of the restaurant. Later that night, Merrin's budy is found, beaten and raped, in a nearby woods. Ig is immediately arrested but while awaiting trial, he is released on his own recognizance.

Ig is on his own, friendless in a town which wants to see him put to death. Merrin's father has threatened to kill him if he escapes justice. Ig's own family have doubts about his innocence.

The townspeople damn Ig to hell, calling him the Devil.
Only, his long time buddy, Lee Tourneau, seems to be on his side and as an attorney, Lee has offered to defend Ig at his trial.

So far, just another interesting murder mystery, right? But wait!

One morning Ig awakens to find that there are black horns growing out of his head. Frightened at first but also bemused at the irony that he now actually looks like the devil people presume him to be. Ig attempts to remove the horns, even asking the local doctor to remove them surgically. But each time an effort is made to remove the horns, they proove impervious, and the horns only grow bigger.

Ig is surprised that no one seeing his horns expresses any surprise or fear. Not only do people not comment about the horns but when they look at him, they are compelled to tell the truth to him and to anyone nearby. But more. When Ig suggests to them to do something, even in frustration or jest, they immediately do it.

Ig's horns are now his only defence and he must use the strange power they have given him to exonerate himself and to find the real murderer in order to exact his own brand of justice.

Not only does the story keep you on the edge of your seat but the action and the special effects leading to the explosive climax are dramatically wonderfull.

It took me about 5 minutes to realize that Daniel Radcliffe is speaking with an American accent. For the duration of the movie, you forget that he is even British.

Stroomers (United States), in his own review of the movie, has this to say:
HORNS is probably one of the most original movies I have ever seen ... It combines so many different movie genres into one fun, crazy, heart felt story that unfortunately is not going to be for everyone ... Once the Horns are introduced things just take a shift into the bizarre ... If you want to see something that you haven't seen before, something ...original but not too overly artsy, ... I suggest giving this a try.

Kudos
Daniel Radcliffe has come a long way since HARRY POTTER; he has executed the role of Ig perfectly.
Max Minghella, also British, as Lee Tourneauas, Ig's friend, was recently seen in The Internship, The Darkest Hour, and The Social Network.
Juno Temple, who plays Merrin Williams, Ig's murdered fiancee, is also British. I do not recall ever seeing her before. However she has an impressive filmography, including Year One, Maleficent, and Far from the Madding Crowd. Both Juno and Max have nicely mastered the American accent
Kathleen Quinlan plays Lydia Perrish, Ig's mom. I have not seen Kathleen for many years and the last time I did see her, she was a beautiful young woman. She is now a late middle aged accomplished actress. I first saw her as the psychologically disturbed young woman in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. She also appeared in The Hills Have Eyes, A Civil Action, Apollo 13, Clara's Heart, Independence Day, and American Graffiti.
Heather Graham plays Veronica, the waitress who lies about seeing Ig kill Merrin. Heather has been in many fine films. I first saw her in Boogie Nights. She also starred with Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow. Other films include Flowers in the Attic (TV Movie), Petals on the Wind (TV Movie), The Hangover, Anger Management, From Hell, Scream 2, and Six Degrees of Separation.
The wonderfull David Morse plays Merrin's dad, Dale Williams. First seen by me in Twelve Monkeys, David has appeared in many other films, including World War Z, The Hurt Locker, Disturbia, 16 Blocks, Hearts in Atlantis, The Green Mile, The Crossing Guard, The Langoliers (TV Mini-Series), and unforgetably as George Washington in John Adams (TV Mini-Series).


Trivia:
When Ig's brother, Terry, is driving Marrin home from the diner, his license plate is seen as "GEN 138," (Genesis, 13:8), which reads, "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brothers.
The band backing up Terry at the bar is Vancouver, BC based, The Brass Action. The song they play is The Devil Down Below off the band's 2013 album, Making Waves.
The movie is based on the Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) novel Horns.
Shia LaBeouf was originally cast in the lead role but he was replaced with Daniel Radcliffe.
Ig's car's license plate indicates 2036LUK which probably refers to the Bible (Luke 20:36) which reads: "and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection."
Terry's license plate "GEN 138" is probably referring to Genesis 1:38 "Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud." This because of his envy of Ig being with Merrin.
The diner Ig takes Merrin to is named "Eve's diner", and its sign is a big apple. Refering to the forbidden apple of Eden that Eve ate and caused man to be cast out of Eden. It's also where Ig first encounters the snake.
The soundtrack contains the song Heroes by David Bowie, which plays a pivotal part in the movie The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) starring Emma Watson, who works for years with Daniel Radcliffe on the Harry Potter franchise (2001-2013)
Lee's car has a license plate "2017EXS". It's a reference to the Bible, Exodus, chapter 20, verse 17. It says as follows: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

Quotes:
Ig Perrish: I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life.
Merrin Williams: Just love me for the rest of mine.
E.R. Doctor: You fucking patients! All you care about is yourselves!
Father Mould: You killed that poor girl, and now the devil has claimed you.
Ig Perrish: [to the media incessantly fopllowing him] How about you guys beat the shit out of each other and the winner gets an exclusive interview with me?

Soundtracks:
Morning has Broken - Written by Eleanor Farjeon
CM17482 SOS Blues - Written by Felicia Carter Shakman - Performed by Felicia Carter
Heroes - Written by David Bowie and Brian Eno - Performed by David Bowie
Story of an Artist - Written by Daniel Johnston
Hold Your Fire
Written by Trent Dabbs
Performed by Trent Dabbs
What the World Needs Now is Love
Written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach
Performed by Devin Powers, Dorian Charnis, and Gabriel Mark Hasselbach
Where is My Mind - Written by Charles Thompson - Performed by Pixies
Lonely Road - Written by Keith Zarriello - Performed by The Shivers
Personal Jesus - Written by Martin Lee Gore - Performed by Marilyn Manson
Sleep with the Lights On - Written by Nader Mansour - Performed by The Wanton Bishops
A Night so Still - Written by Stuart Ashton Staples and Robert Daniel McKinna - Performed by Tindersticks
That Look You Gave that Guy - Written by Mark O. Everett and Koool G Murder - Performed by EELS
Devil Down Below - Written by Will Shand, Ryan Clare, Richard Mitchell, Tyson Sully, Mark Myskiw, Garrett McLaughlin, and Alan Keelan - Performed by The Brass Action
Ashes and Matches - Written by Doug Jerebine - Performed by Doug Jerebine
11:34 (Hell O'Clock) - Written by Ryan Clare, Richard Mitchell, Tyson Sully, Mark Myskiw, and Garrett McLaughlin - Performed by The Brass Action
Beginnings - Written by Tobias Winterkorn, Araya "Ellas" Assegahegn, and Jose Gonzalez - Performed by Junip
Evil - Written by Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, and Michael Ivins - Performed by The Flaming Lips
If I had a Heart - Written by Dreijer Andersson - Performed by Fever Ray [theme from TV series THE VIKINGS]
60 Feet Tall - Written by Dean Fertita and Allison Mosshart - Performed by The Dead Weather
Hommage á John Cage - Written by Gyoergy Sen, Kurtag - Performed by Nam June Paik
Shut Up I am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings - Written by Spencer Krug, Camilla Wynne Inger, Jordan Robson Cramer, and Michael Doerksen

Message Boards:
Recent Posts:
Oh goodie, more female rape - burrellb
How does Merrin die? - holesahoy
Any other fans of the book disappointed? - tysonboh
I just felt so sorry for Glenna - dilb5rt
I'm one of the biggest fans of the book and I say... - patrik-wizard
Isn't this pretty much like 1994's The Crow? - Neutrino_Bomb_Squad

Discuss Horns (2013) on the IMDb message boards


Cast overview, first billed only:
        Daniel Radcliffe  ... Ig Perrish
        Max Minghella  ... Lee Tourneau
        Joe Anderson  ... Terry Perrish
        Juno Temple        ... Merrin Williams
        Kelli Garner  ... Glenna Shepherd
        James Remar        ... Derrick Perrish
        Kathleen Quinlan  ... Lydia Perrish
        Heather Graham  ... Veronica
        David Morse        ... Dale Williams
        Michael Adamthwaite ... Eric Hannity
        Nels Lennarson  ... Wallace Sturtz
        Don Thompson  ... Al O'Hara
        Jay Brazeau     ... Father Mould
        Alex Zahara        ... Dr. Renald
        Kendra Anderson  ...Nurse Delilah


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