Jay Shah
DevOps\Aerospace Engineer & Journalist
Hey there, Jaysuits and horror hounds alike!
Just when you thought the spooky season couldn’t get any better, I’m back from an exhilarating journey through the real pièce de résistance of the VANCOUVER HORROR SHOW Burnaby edition :
“The DÆMON“
A Lovecraftian masterpiece that crawled under our skin and set up permanent residence. Directed by the dynamic duo David Michael Yohe and Matt Devino, it’s a psychological deep dive into the abyss of grief and the unknown lurking beneath placid surfaces.
The Plot Thickens (Like Blood in a Horror Flick):
“The DÆMON” follows the story of Tom (played with haunting intensity by Tyler Q. Rosen), a man haunted—quite literally—by his father’s suicide. Seeking solace, he retreats to the family’s secluded lakeside cottage, a place teeming with childhood memories and, unbeknownst to him, an ancient, malevolent force lurking beneath the calm waters.
As Tom’s behavior grows increasingly erratic, his estranged wife Kathy (Sara Fletcher) becomes concerned and enlists the help of her brother Mark (Oscar Wilson) and his wife Jess (Adriana Isabel), a trauma counselor who’s perhaps a bit too empathetic for her own good.
Devino & David Yohe, THE DÆMON, 2024
Together, they venture into the woods, unaware they’re walking straight into the clutches of something far more sinister than family drama.
A Cinematic Experience That Haunts:
Watching it in the theater was an immersive experience that tapped into primal fears. The film doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares or over-the-top gore (though there’s enough to satisfy the gorehounds among us). Instead, it builds tension through atmosphere, sound design, and the unsettling feeling that something is fundamentally wrong—the kind of wrong that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
The cinematography by J.R. Kraus is a masterclass in mood setting. The lake, almost a character itself, is shot in a way that oscillates between serene beauty and ominous vastness. The use of natural lighting and shadow creates a sense of claustrophobia even in open spaces, playing tricks on the eye and the mind. Daytime scenes are bathed in a cold, sterile light that underscores the characters’ isolation, while nighttime sequences plunge us into inky darkness, broken only by the pale glow of moonlight or the flicker of a distant fire. It’s the kind of visual storytelling that doesn’t just set the scene but pulls you into it, making you feel the chill in the air and the weight of the impending doom.
Sound design plays a crucial role as well. The ambient noises—the rustling of leaves, the lapping of water against the shore, the distant call of a loon—are amplified to create an almost oppressive sense of silence. When the DÆMON’s influence begins to manifest, the auditory experience shifts dramatically. Subtle distortions, low-frequency hums, and whispered echoes weave into the soundtrack, unsettling the audience on a subconscious level.
Performances That Possess You:
Tyler Q. Rosen delivers a tour de force performance as Tom, capturing the character’s descent into madness (or perhaps possession?) with a subtlety that keeps you guessing. Is he grieving? Is he losing his mind? Or is something more otherworldly at play? Rosen keeps us teetering on the edge of empathy and suspicion.
Adriana Isabel as Jess is the emotional anchor of the film. Her portrayal of a trauma counselor facing her own demons adds layers of complexity. She’s compassionate yet skeptical, strong yet vulnerable—a balance that’s hard to strike but essential in grounding the supernatural elements in emotional reality.
Oscar Wilson brings a different energy as Mark. He’s brash, skeptical, and often the voice of reason—or at least, the voice of denial. His practical approach to the unfolding horror provides a counterbalance to Jess’s empathy and Tom’s unraveling sanity. The tension between the characters adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the various ways people cope (or fail to cope) with trauma and the unknown.
Sara Fletcher‘s Kathy, though with less screen time, leaves a lasting impact. Her desperation and guilt over Tom’s abandonment are palpable, adding an emotional urgency to the quest to save him. Her character represents the collateral damage of untreated trauma—the loved ones left behind to pick up the pieces.
The Q&A—Peeling Back the Layers:
After the screening, we were treated to an insightful Q&A with director David Michael Yohe and actor/producer Tyler Q. Rosen. They delved into the inspirations behind the film, citing Lovecraftian horror, of course, but also touching on themes of inherited trauma and the masks people wear to hide their inner turmoil.
Yohe discussed the challenges of shooting on location at a remote lake, dealing with unpredictable weather, and ensuring the safety of the cast and crew during some of the more intense night shoots. Fun fact: the eerie mist rolling over the lake in one of the pivotal scenes? Completely natural. Mother Nature, you spooky gal! Furthermore, the cabin shown in the movie was infact Tyler’s own personal pad!
Rosen also shared his process for getting into character, which involved a deep dive into psychological studies on grief and isolation. He joked about staying in character off-set to the point where fellow cast members started avoiding him during breaks. Method acting at its most unsettling!
Practical Effects Over CGI—A Bold Choice:
One of the standout aspects of this kino is its use of practical effects. In an era where CGI often reigns supreme, Yohe and Devino opted for old-school techniques to bring their creature to life ( a given especially due to Yohe’s devotion and admiration for John Carpenter). The result? A tangible sense of dread that CGI often can’t replicate. The creature’s design is kept just obscured enough to let your imagination fill in the terrifying blanks, proving once again that what you don’t see can be even scarier than what you do.
The filmmakers wisely avoid overexposing the creature. Glimpses are fleeting—a distortion in the water, a shadow that moves independently of its source, a whisper that seems to emanate from within the characters’ own minds.
The DÆMON‘s influence is also psychological. It exploits the characters’ deepest fears and regrets, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination. Tom’s visions of his father, for instance, are both a manifestation of his grief and a conduit for the DÆMON’s manipulation. These scenes are executed with a dreamlike quality—surreal imagery, disjointed timelines, and a sense of disorientation that mirrors Tom’s deteriorating mental state.
Themes That Linger:
Beyond the scares, the film delves into heavy themes like grief, mental health, and the unknowable depths of the human psyche. It poses questions about what we inherit from our parents—not just genetically, but emotionally and spiritually.
Are we doomed to repeat their mistakes, or can we break the cycle?
For example, the lake becomes a metaphor for the subconscious mind—a vast, unexplored depth where forgotten memories and repressed emotions lie dormant, waiting to resurface. By the time the credits rolled, I found myself contemplating not just the chilling narrative but also my own perceptions of mental health and the stigmas that surround it. It’s a testament to the filmmakers’ skill that they can weave such introspection into a horror film without it feeling forced or preachy.
The secluded setting amplifies feelings of isolation and paranoia. Cut off from the outside world, the characters are forced to confront not only the supernatural threat but also their own inner demons. The film examines how isolation can exacerbate mental health issues, leading to a downward spiral that’s difficult to escape.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Reception
The film has already garnered praise on the festival circuit. Emilie Black from Cinema Crazed described it as a “beautifully shot, character-driven horror film that will appeal to fans of the weird, Lovecraft-adjacent cinema.” Vincent Gaine from The Critical Movie Critics highlighted the film’s “evocative visuals, varied cast, and commitment to its premise,” noting that it “uses familiar tropes in a way that, while not original, are certainly engaging and unsettling.”
Audience reactions were equally enthusiastic. As we exited the theater, conversations buzzed with interpretations of the film’s ending, debates over the nature of the DÆMON, and appreciation for the film’s atmospheric depth on such a tight budget compared to the over bloated mess in Hollywood these days.
One festival-goer, DatAshCrimson, shared on Letterboxd:
“Beautifully shot and color-graded like an art house horror yet with the old-school Stuart Gordon-style campy splatter-horror and irreverent comic relief that impressively doesn’t undercut the themes of trauma and grief. Much has been said about the jaw-droppingly cool final shot; if that doesn’t have you ascending, I don’t know what will.“
BUT most importantly; it won the most prestigious prize that can be bestowed upon such a KINO….
🏆✨
🏆✨
For me, it was a highlight of the festival (as a sucker for the cosmic horror subgenre…we lovecraftians barely get any, although its’s slowly been changing with Underwater and Annihilation to a certain extent, not to forget The Void)—a film that not only delivered on the promise of scares but also left a lingering impression long after the theater lights came up.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
So, to all my fellow horror hounds and cosmic dread enthusiasts, I say this—dive into “The DÆMON“ if you dare! Just maybe keep a nightlight on and steer clear of any mysterious lakes for a while. 😉 Until our next spine-tingling adventure, keep your wits sharp, your hearts brave, and as always, stay spooky!
🖤👻
And there you have it, fellow Jaysuits! Another cinematic gem dissected and celebrated. 🎬✨
For more updates and to follow my adventures, connect with me on:
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated and serves my coffee addiction.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly
