HELD Review

4 star sleek and shocking thriller.

Held features a script written by Jill Awbry, who also takes the lead role in a very impressive feature debut. It is expertly directed by the pair behind the popular Gallows films, Chris Lofing and Travis Cluff. Cluff can also be heard in the film as the sinister voice of the house.

Held will be released on DVD and Digital Platforms on 25th April courtesy of Bulldog Film Distribution.

“Someone was in here. And if they put this nightgown on me, what else did they do to me?”

Emma (Jill Awbry) is a troubled woman, haunted by her memories of an attack many years previously. She is heading for a remote house in the country for a weekend getaway with her husband Henry (Bart Johnson – High School Musical, Initiation), who plans to join her the following day. They hope to celebrate their anniversary and revitalize their marriage.

It gets off to a bad start, with creepy and overbearing taxi driver Joe (Rez Kempton – The Mummy, Amar Akbar and Tony) who asks far too many questions. He is soon forgotten however as Emma looks round the house, it’s well appointed and comfortable with all mod cons.

It has a very sophisticated security system and she does notice some strange features, extra locks on the doors and a book of rules, but thinks nothing of it. To her surprise, Henry arrives early, the same evening but he makes advances and she is not keen. Angry, they both drink the whisky provided, but something is not right.

Both drugged, they awaken the next morning to find that Emma has had her clothes changed and someone has left them a coffee by the bed. That’s when they first hear the voice (Cluff). The phone rings and they are told “Obey Us.” As the doors lock and the shutters come down, they realise this is no ordinary holiday. They must follow the instructions given by “the voice” in order to survive this enforced marriage counselling.

“You will not leave the house again. There are rules. You must obey us. Disobedience has consequences.”

Held is an excellent film, very well written and gripping from start to finish. For a film which is essentially set in only one location, the sense of tension is constant and very real. The awkwardness created between the characters is brilliantly portrayed and quite hard to watch in places.

It also boasts some extremely shocking and disturbing twists to the story, clever and well executed by the actors. The whole thing is underlined by a moody score by Richard Breakspear (Prey) which really adds to the atmosphere.

Good fun and well worth a watch.

“You belong to your husband Mrs. Barrett. You must obey him. Just as Eve was created for Adam.”

 

Held is available on DVD and Digital Platforms from 25th April 2022.