After seeing and enjoying It Comes at Night, it was necessary to see Trey Edwards Shults first film Krisha. It is currently available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Instant. The film was picked up by A24 with the caveat that they would produce his next feature. Shults really has an immersive style that brings the audience into the world of the characters.
Krisha is an intensely immersive film
Krisha (Krisha Fairchild) returns home after being away from her family for a decade. There is a lot of tension and apprehension felt by the characters and the audience alike. As the plot develops it becomes clear that Krisha hasn’t left all of her troubles behind her and the source of the unease becomes painfully apparent.
Shults use of sound is key in establishing the immersive qualities in his film. When Krisha is on the verge of a panic attack so is the audience. It’s the emphasis of the sounds, the disorienting visuals, and the constant movement whether by actors or camera that put you into the same mental space as the character. It creates a feeling of empathy for a character who clearly is at fault for a lot of her problems as you enter her headspace.
What makes this film difficult to watch is the relatability of being home for the holidays if you don’t feel particularly wanted. The small talk that starts pleasant enough slowly creeps into criticism. Every room becomes a potential war zone so you spend the day trying to find shelter. This regression leads Krisha to her old habits, which is ironically what put her in this defensive position in the first place.
Final thoughts…
The performances in the film are solid with Shults even playing a major, but small, character named Trey. It’s a prime example of what a movie can be if made intimately and personal. Something Shults brings to It Comes at Night is this personal story embedded in a bigger scope. While Krisha is smaller still, it’s possible that the lasting effect is stronger as the world Krisha lives in is more common. Krisha earns the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
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