“Self-Help” follows a college student who infiltrates a dangerous self-actualization community when her mother becomes entangled with its leader.
Searching For Balance
In the early stages, “Self-Help” struggles to find its footing. Once things get rolling, however, it proves to be a fun rollercoaster ride. Is it a tad pretentious? Sure. But it’s the thought that counts.
The themes of overcoming trauma and identity are explored here. For a horror movie, “Self-Help” examines its ideas far more than others in the genre. It makes genuine attempts at developing the characters within these confines. There are many instances where it doesn’t succeed, but the effort is made nonetheless.
“Self-Help” has an identity problem because of this. It struggles to balance its horror and dramatic elements, with the varying highs and lows causing large entertainment gaps. Even with just an 85-minute runtime, there are long stretches where it feels like the plot is running thin.
Haunted By Uneven Tones
As the movie goes back and forth between opposing genres, it loses steam. It may feature a compelling horror plotline, and then completely abandon it for an emotional beat the next. These tones don’t mesh, resulting in an up-and-down viewing experience.
While “Self-Help” does effectively develop characters, many of their journeys are cut short. Outside of Olivia (Landry Bender), no one else is given a completely fulfilling conclusion. This results in a movie that feels incomplete in many ways.
Bender leads the film with grace, bringing composure, resentment and anger to the screen. Her line delivery works well for this character, as she balances different emotions with precision.
Jake Weber (Curtis Clark) steals the show each time he appears onscreen. His voice alone is perfect for the role, adding a haunting ambiance to a compelling villain.
That is all that he is, however – compelling. The film’s central antagonist isn’t fleshed out enough to fully buy into his madness.
Stylized Twists and Turns
Despite its uneven tone, “Self-Help” has several genuinely disturbing moments – and ideas. They may be few and far between, but there are a number of solid scares present.
It’s also a visual feast, with strong costume design, sets and creative camerawork. Director Erik Bloomquist brings style, particularly in one immersive POV sequence.
“Self-Help” is one of the “twistiest” movies of the year – to a fault. The film prioritizes surprises over story, which leads to inconsistencies that drag the narrative down. Because of this, the plot itself struggles to keep up with all the reveals it presents.
If you’re looking for a way to pass the time on Halloween, “Self-Help” isn’t the worst option. It’s a genre-bending experiment that doesn’t always work, but still has more to say than many other horror films.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
