A passion project that for me just fell short of the mark as I bring you my Sator movie review.
Secluded in a desolate forest, a broken family is observed by the demon Sator who is attempting to claim them.
Writer/director/producer/cinematographer/composer Jordan Graham has weaved Sator into quite an enjoyable watch for the most part.
Taking on so many roles certainly allows that independent creative freedom to have things your way.
When there are too many chefs in the kitchen something is bound to go wrong.
Keeping the production side solely on your own back is certainly no mean feat, the only job that Jordan Graham didn’t do in this movie is act!
At the same time, it does feel very narrow in its delivery and that’s where the help of others can come in handy.
With references to isolation, delusion, mental illness and more at the forefront of the movie this supernatural presence doesn’t quite hit home for me.
There always feels like there’s something missing and no amount of superb sound design can fill the empty spaces that Sator possesses in spades.
Whilst at times the sound effects completely alienate me from what I’m watching on screen it’s difficult to decipher just what we’re witnessing on screen.
It’s a slow burn and that in itself doesn’t help as these gaps are plugged by randomness as we’re put into a corner and told to peer through the fog.
For every question, there are no answers and it just seems to drag on.
In parts, there is a real quality to Sator but it definitely feels very isolated, no doubt as a result of a one-man-band type production and could certainly have benefitted from other opinions and contributions to this.
All in all Sator for me just feels like a missed opportunity although I’m sure some people with a lot more patience than I and lower expectations would dig it.
Sator movie review by Sean Evans
Our Rating
Summary
For all the positives the negatives far outweigh.
A valiant effort and the determination and artistry within the production is there for all to see it’s just the execution and long-drawn-out story with little impact that severely lets this creature-feature type horror down
