Matchmaker’s Maze: Perilous Paths of Affection

Read Time:3 Minute, 49 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Soul Mates
–

Genre: Horror, Thriller
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 27m
Director(s): Mark Gantt
Writer(s): Chris LaMont, Joe Russo
Cast: Neal McDonough, Annie Illonzeh, Charlie Weber
Where To Watch: in select theaters October 20, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: Dive into SOUL MATES, a concoction where love collides with horror, crafting a genre-blending spectacle that keeps your heart racing. This narrative takes a well-known formula and spins it on its head. Part SAW, part ESCAPE ROOM, and part 90s dating scene, the film delivers an experience that will keep you on your toes, trying to figure out all the puzzles throughout. However, it doesn’t escape certain tropes, leading to a few moments of predictability and a finish that might feel too tidy for some.

Imagine a world where finding your soulmate isn’t just a matter of the heart but a high-stakes survival game. That’s the premise of SOUL MATES, which introduces us to a mysterious figure, the Matchmaker (Neal McDonough,) who catapults the lives of two unsuspecting individuals into chaos. Our protagonists, portrayed compellingly by Charlie Weber as Jason and Annie Ilonzeh as Allison, find themselves in a love story that veers off script, spiraling into a nightmarish realm where every decision and step is a dance with death.

What truly sets SOUL MATES apart is its investment in the characters. The fear is palpable, not solely due to the life-threatening predicaments but also to the character's emotional turmoil. Their internal struggles, juxtaposed with the external chaos, fuel the movie's relentless tension. This approach gives the audience characters to root for, not just scenarios to fear.

But even as the story thrives on its character dynamics, it fumbles in fleshing out the backgrounds and motives, especially regarding the enigmatic Matchmaker. I understand there is supposed to be a tone of mystery and intrigue, but the lack of understanding of the character's motives takes a palpable sense of fear away from the film. While the labyrinth they traverse is rife with danger, there's a sense of missed opportunity to elevate this setting into something more memorable and unique from the horror landscapes we've seen.

Yet, despite these missed opportunities in narrative exploration, the film doesn’t skimp on performance. Neal McDonough, as the Matchmaker, is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, exuding an unsettling charisma that keeps you on edge. The real treat, however, is the authentic connection between Weber and Ilonzeh, ensuring the audience is emotionally invested in their journey from start to finish. Their performances sell the film in a way that’s incredibly hard to do with small casts like this.

Additionally, SOUL MATES deserves applause for its visual craftsmanship. The settings are grounded, the terror feels real, and there’s an evident preference for authenticity over glossy Hollywood scares (even with the glossy Hollywood scares.) The film invites its audience to sit back and watch, think, and question, making the thrills more than skin-deep.

SOUL MATES makes its mark by crafting a story that's as much about battling inner demons as about surviving real ones. While it doesn’t dodge some predictability and could have taken a bolder dive into the unknown, it remains a solid watch. The film serves up chills in a package that’s enticing and notably human at its core, proving to be a worthy pick for those after some emotional depth with their adrenaline rush.

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[photo courtesy of IMANI MEDIA GROUP, FAITH MEDIA DISTRIBUTION]

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