Synopsis: Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that she can cure. After the brutal murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring him back to life. A modern-day tale of death, rebirth and the bonds of family, inspired by Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster ever since I heard Bomani on the Movie Crypt podcast but for some reason, it slipped through the cracks. I’m not sure why it took me so long but it was absolutely worth the wait.
Laya DeLeon Hayes stars as Vicaria, a brilliant young black woman fighting to find a way to combat the untimely passing of the people in her life. This retelling of Frankenstein’s monster, set against the backdrop of the projects, brings a well-established story to the modern day. All while highlighting the struggles of young black men and women trying to survive a world where the only escape is ultimately death. Now, me being a white male, I don’t even begin to fathom what a life like that entails but this film sheds light on a world that I can only really say I’ve seen on screen and presents that in a frightening little horror package. I know there is a deeper message to this piece from Story but that doesn’t distract from the fact that he also created a solid genre film. He creates a sense of dread that just lingers.
The monster is a foreboding presence whenever he steps on the screen and the welcome use of practical effects really added a layer of realism to him as well as his surroundings. The acting was well done and based on what I saw, I’d like to see Hayes in more horror related fare. Writer/director, Bomani J. Story weaves a captivating tale and I’m absolutely looking forward to more from him in the future. I don’t really have any complaints about this film. It isn’t really groundbreaking by any means but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable watch for any horror fan and you should add this one to your watchlist. If it sounds like something you might be into, then you can find it currently streaming on Shudder as of this writing.
Join me again tomorrow as we continue our descent down the horror rabbit hole.
