
Vocalist Jae Matthews and producer Augustus Muller have been making music under the name Boy Harsher since 2013, amassing a cult following with the track “Pain” serving as an underground hit that brought them to the attention of many. The bands sound, a complimentary mix of minimal synths inspired by darkwave and coldwave, is perfectly apt for neon-drenched horror that has become predominate within the more ‘artistic’ productions that lean heavy on atmosphere to seduce the audience. As such, when the band announced their first film, The Runner, it struck many fans as an ideal fit to highlight the band’s devious electronic dance music.
At the same time, such transitions don’t always work out in favor, however, as the two mediums of music and film are not always exclusively complimentary if placed in incompetent hands. Alternatively, the transition can see such projects only serve to appease the existing fanbase and offer little for those not ‘in the know’. Thankfully, Boy Harsher avoids these pitfalls to craft a unique horror experience.
In order to discuss what makes The Runner a refreshing and inventive experience, it is important to touch on what the film is. The narrative loosely follows an evil entity running through rural America and leaving death in her wake. However, the production is best defined through its aesthetic and music – several tracks are performed in full. Furthermore, the use of brief interviews with the band act to give insight into the progress while also bleeding into the film narrative. Giving the film a deep sense of identity focused around the group’s music, this is highlighted in Jae Matthew’s own reflections on what ‘the runner’ symbolizes – a woman who embodies chaos but still maintains a sense of tragic humanity.
The experimental narrative is supplemented by an ethereal flow and color pallet – alternating between neon-drenched dives, scenic outdoor shots and macabre scenes of bloodshed. As a visual experience, the idea that the film was made exclusively as a vehicle for the music is easily pushed aside – the balance of beauty and menace offering its own seductive appeal.
Outside of interviews with the band, the performances are largely silent making critique a mostly moot point. However, musician Kris Esfandiari (King Woman) perfectly embodies menace as the unnamed runner – hypnotic and chaotic as she searches for a greater purpose only to have it end in bloodshed. As a special treat for fans of cult cinema, there is a cameo from icon James Duval whose brief appearance offers a singular moment of slight humor – a wonderful addition both as an appearance and a slight tone shift.
To admit personal bias, I have long been a fan of Boy Harsher and their music. As a fan, it not only met my expectations, it exceeded these. However, I was fortunate enough to catch this with a friend unfamiliar with the group and was pleased to learn they got caught up in the same hypnotic flow and mesmerizing visuals.
It is wonderful to see this, admittedly, niche concept being brought to a larger platform via the Shudder streaming service – the perfect home for the delectably dark ‘pure evil’ Boy Harsher is able to craft. Whether you are familiar with the band and their music or not, The Runner is a sinister journey through pain, pleasure and the unknown.
More Film Reviews
A mysterious envelope promising an anonymous sexual encounter tempts a Hollywood agent weeks before his marriage, and following through on it throws his life off the rails in ways that… “Southold, New York, 1843: Young Mary (Stefanie Scott), blood trickling from behind the blindfold tied around her eyes, is interrogated about the events surrounding her grandmother’s death. As the story… The Phoenix Lights might be one of the most intriguing pieces of UFO conspiracies on the internet. On March 13, 1997, thousands of people spotted the formation of unidentified lights… Ceroboh (aka The Screaming Sky) is a 2022 Malaysian sci-fi thriller, directed by Feisal Azizuddin. Mostly known for directing shorts, Feisal made his move into feature-length directing the drama thriller… “My name is Roxy, but the village girls call me toxic” After explaining how womankind found themselves alone in the land known as ‘After Blue’, we meet Roxy whose introduction… There are many different types of fears that can fester in the mind, everyone on some level knows what their greatest nightmare is – experiencing such emotions is an unavoidable…The Beta Test (2021) Film Review – Navigating Hollywood’s Seedy Underbelly
The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021) Film Review – Religious Horror
Phoenix Forgotten (2017) Film Review – Memorable or not?
Ceroboh (2022) Film Review – The Real Sky Beast is Man
After Blue (Dirty Paradise) Film Review – An Erotic, Sci-fi, Coming of Age Tale
Alone With You (2021) Film Review – A Metaphysical Nightmare