Fashionista (2016)

Fashionista: Directed by Simon Rumley. With Amanda Fuller, Ethan Embry, Eric Balfour, Alex Essoe. A woman who uses clothes as an emotional crutch discovers her life isn’t as ideal as she thought…

“A woman (Amanda Fuller) who uses clothes as an emotional crutch discovers her life is not as ideal as she thought…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Simon Rumley has assembled a small stable of actors well-known for their recent horror contributions. We have both Alex Essoe (u0026quot;Starry Eyesu0026quot;, u0026quot;Tales of Halloweenu0026quot;) and the perennial favorite Ethan Embry (u0026quot;Late Phasesu0026quot;, u0026quot;Devilu0026#39;s Candyu0026quot;). Leading the way is Amanda Fuller (Rumleyu0026#39;s u0026quot;Red, White and Blueu0026quot;, u0026quot;Starry Eyesu0026quot;, u0026quot;Cheap Thrillsu0026quot;, and more recently u0026quot;Last Man Standingu0026quot;). If for no other reason, this cast makes the film worth a watch.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe counterbalance is Eric Balfour, a man with very wolflike features, which makes him perfect as the seductive third party to lure in Fulleru0026#39;s character. Balfour was in u0026quot;Texas Chainsaw Massacreu0026quot;, but interestingly enough also appeared in u0026quot;Canu0026#39;t Hardly Waitu0026quot; with co-star Embry. Frankly, Balfouru0026#39;s list of horror credits being so short is a surprise, as he has exactly the right look for it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cinematography has a strange, unnatural color palette, which seems to be Rumleyu0026#39;s trademark. He (or cinematographer Milton Kam) used a similar device in u0026quot;P is for Pressureu0026quot;. Perhaps not coincidentally, u0026quot;Pressureu0026quot; also had a certain plot element revolving around fashion / modeling. So is this another trademark of Rumleyu0026#39;s: the love of clothes? Like the characters in u0026quot;Fashionistau0026quot;, does he have a u0026quot;special connection to clothesu0026quot;? Well, without the addiction or running naked through stores, of course.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film in general is quite good, though it does take a bit to get going. If you watch only the first half, you get a story about a second-hand store and infidelity. But it shifts gears in the second half to addiction and even darker themes, clearly treading into horror territory. We even get some interesting visual nods – a u0026quot;Tenebraeu0026quot; poster, and a u0026quot;stitch womanu0026quot; in a dream, which is unlike anything seen in film (the closest that comes to mind is u0026quot;Mayu0026quot;).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Fashionistau0026quot; screened July 29, 2017 at the Fantasia International Film Festival. It is not the most conventional of horror stories, but that may be its strength. Simon Rumley went quickly from being a new face to being on the front lines for the next generation of genre fans. This film clearly adds to his already notable resume.”