In the first-time feature film "Stopmotion" from director Robert Morgan, we're introduced to a known horror movie narrative: a tormented artist whose obsession with their work drives them to insanity with horrific outcomes. Dealing with diverse topics, from beatnik sculptors to ballet and even hair styling, it spins an engaging web. This time around, the central theme is the arduous and time-intense process of stop-motion animation. Despite some bloodcurdling sequences, the film leans into trite horror tropes, causing some frustration and making the tour de force performance of Aisling Fransciosi all the more captivating.
Fransciosi takes on the role of Ella Blake, an apprentice in the realm of animation, who lends her substantial talents to her mother's (Stella Gonet) final project, as her mother's severe arthritis circumstances leave her incapable of manipulating the figurines. The collaboration between mother and daughter is far from harmonious with the mother serving as a strict supervisor, using psychological leverage over her daughter. Ella desperately wants to branch out and pursue an independent project but lacks the much-needed creative spark. After a life-altering event, Ella, with the support of her boyfriend Tom (Tom York), shifts to a vacant apartment to complete her mother's project and stride forward into independence.
However, a sudden interruption in the form of a mysterious young girl (Caoilinn Springall) changes everything. The girl, growing bored with Ella’s project, proposes a fresh narrative about a girl being tormented by an evil entity known as the Ash Man lost in the woods. In due time, she suggests that Ella utilize raw meat and dead animals to construct actual meat puppets. As she throws herself into the creation of her project, Ella begins to lose sight of the line separating reality and art, perversely envisaging that she is the one being hunted by the Ash Man. Ella creates an unsettlingly immersive display of art in what could be considered the most disturbing fashion possible.
Robert Morgan, distinctive for making a name for himself in the horror community with his acclaimed stop-motion shorts, presents striking and stomach-churning sequences in this feature, but the storyline is nothing more than a rehash of the stereotypical unstable artist cliché, mixed up with horror elements reminiscent of "Repulsion". The plot becomes predictable and the shock factor doesn't really hit the mark. The film falls short in fleshing out its main character, Ella, as the narrative starts exploiting her similar to her earlier manipulation by her mother.
But Fransciosi’s intense performance brings a ray of light to the film’s shortcoming as it skilfully evokes some empathy for Ella, at least for a while. Her portrayal of Ella is deeply captivating, ensuring audiences remain engaged despite the predictable script. Known for her unforgettable roles in "The Nightingale" and "The Last Voyage of the Demeter", she puts forward a commendable effort with "Stopmotion". Considering her performance, one can't help but feel that she put in considerably more work than the writers did in shaping her character.
"Stopmotion" aspires to be a wild, psychedelic journey into the innermost depths of insanity. However, it ends up being an assortment of gory visuals and stale tropes, occasionally punctuated by some stand-out animation and Franciosi’s commendable performance. Morgan successfully crafts creepy imagery but lacks in fitting them organically into the storyline. For devotees of the gory genre and stop-motion animation, "Stopmotion" presents some entertaining visuals, but anyone expecting a terrifying yet poignant narrative will likely leave disappointed.
