lost-in-limbo
I had no idea what I was getting myself into with "NURSE JILL". What we do get is an atypical, no frills, hallucinogenic 16mm independent exploitation throwback(?), although set in modern times, but filmed in the style of that grindhouse era, even with some added grain. A very experimental and unique effort, as it goes a step further, wasn't intentional due to a lack of resources (no budget), but how it played out, there was no spoken dialogue, just minimal dialogue cards flashing up on screen like out of a silent film. It surprisingly works. My favorite aspect of the film was the moody, retro sounding music score, which never lets up with its vast expressive arrangement, creating the perfect ambiance and working well alongside the authentic shot-on-location atmospherics.It had me thinking of those sleazy, scuzzy, soul-destroying Giallos, slashers and psychopathic 70/80s features, and the narrative is broken up into three parts; Victim (probably the most effective), WTF (is the best way of describing without spoiling it) and stalker rapist (where I found it to lose some interest in spite of the psychological toiling and retribution angle). They do connect, but it's quite random, especially the squirmy bizarro Waters-esque mid-section. Where you get a disfigured woman (supposedly the victim in well-done make-up FX) held captive by an utterly strange, depraved family, where two scrawny brothers strip, constantly fondle themselves and pretty much jack off right in your face as the camera zooms in. Just say there's even a deleted scene from that segment involving a golden shower. So yeah, it doesn't hold back, so be warned.While the nudity is quite graphic and sexual violence can be intrusively nasty. Blood and splatter, and there's little of it, is terribly meek though, in what looks like food leftovers, but a $3,000 budget can only go so far. That's why I found the first segment to be the most efficient, it's a little more one-note as it focused on the mannerisms of a solid Heather Marie Vernon to draw upon the suspense and paranoia from such a simple layout having a mask wearing creeper (sometimes in POV shots) stalking her as she goes about her business. I never got bored of the constant wandering of the streets imagery. In the end I found it to be fascinating, rather than entertaining.
Cody Rapp (biscutbuu69)
Shot on 16mm film and released late 2016, Nurse Jill is a horror, drama film centering on Jill a nurse who is attempting to get her life together after she divorces her husband. The problem here is there's a sadistic serial rapist on the loose and Jill thinks she is being stalked by someone. After a dramatic turn of events things take a turn for the sleazy, surreal and weird. The film is obviously at least plot and visuals wise supposed to be a tribute to mid to late 70s surreal horror/Giallo films in the vein of stuff like Suspiria with a little bit of John Waters sleaze thrown in for good measure. The film is shot with this interesting voyeuristic style which really adds to the atmosphere, Although I think the way its shot is due to lack of permits and budgeting issues but even so it helps the film. The acting at least body language wise is good since there is no real spoken dialogue in the film. The writing is fairly solid and everything from a technical standpoint: lighting, audio mix, etc is also good. The music in the film is fantastic and I think really sets a tone for some of the scenes although some other scenes could use a bit more subtle, creepy music. What there is of gore effects are fairly well done although the film is far from being a gore fest. The film plays out very much like a silent film and/or Giallo film with this slow start and build up of tension and atmosphere then things escalate and eventually come to and end. Overall I really liked this film its a great tribute to Giallo and 70s horror films, I would say its not a film for everyone though the fact that it is silent other than music might turn some people off but I thought it was a nice touch that gave the film an extra layer of surrealism. I'd give the film a 4.25/5 (on the ten scale its a 8.5/10)
