Is ‘Grafted’ the Next Must-See Body Horror or Just a Gory Mess?

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In recent times, the “body horror” genre has been gaining popularity, boosted by the success of the film “The Substance“. Now, we have Sasha Rainbow’s debut feature, “Grafted“, joining the fray, delving into similar themes of femininity and body-image concerns, but with a delight in gruesome aesthetics. This movie within the subgenre tells the story of an exchange student who strives to become traditionally attractive. Born with a distinctive skin condition that appears to have been passed down from her father, Wei (Joyena Sun), decides to pursue his intricate research into growing new skin to correct imperfections on the body.

‘Grafted’ Crafts a Bloody Revenge Story

This tale can be seen as a journey of growth for this young woman, showcasing her coming-of-age experiences. Her beginning story with her father hints at not only the perils of her quest but also the challenges that the entire movie will encounter. The scientific aspects of this project are jotted down in handwritten Mandarin notes, accompanied by some vividly squishy sound effects, and then a somewhat rough CG creation that takes over the father’s body following his self-test of the initial ‘graft’. This is what ultimately leads to Wei’s father’s demise, spurring her on a vengeful mission to complete her father’s work and enhance her own beauty.

Upon gaining admission to a school in New Zealand and moving in with her well-known cousin, Angela (Jess Hong), Wei swiftly becomes the standout student in her science class. This catches the attention of her unscrupulous professor, Paul (Jared Turner), who is grappling with job loss and an affair with Eve (Eden Hart), a traditionally attractive woman known for her cruel behavior, embodying the classic mean-girl stereotype.

Initially, Wei strives to act correctly throughout the movie, aiming to connect with Angela and Eve and also sharing her intellectual prowess and father’s vision with her professor. However, things don’t go as planned; instead, she encounters rejection, ridicule, humiliation, and exploitation. As a result of these setbacks, Wei chooses to assert her power and seize what she desires regardless of the cost. This is where the movie delights in gruesome pleasure through scenes involving body swaps, violence, and torment.

A Clash of Clichés Overshadow Deeper Concepts

Beneath the surface, the movie Grafted explores themes of diversity and cultural representation versus traditional notions of beauty. It portrays the struggles of young women who are subjected to strict standards of attractiveness and acceptance, feeling excluded when they are forced to observe from the sidelines. These themes are subtly woven into the storyline, serving as a supporting element to the violent chaos that characterizes the plot. For instance, in a scene where Wei tries to share a traditional meal with her potential friends, they react negatively to the unfamiliar cultural cuisine she enjoys, causing her embarrassment and dashed hopes of forming connections. This incident underscores the fact that Wei doesn’t fit in due to her appearance, dietary habits, or speech. Ultimately, it leaves her with only one option… to transform herself physically into them.

In this case, there’s a bit of a cognitive dilemma, as this group of fashionable friends appears quite multicultural. Despite sharing some similarities in their speech, dress, and behavior due to cultural assimilation, each one comes from distinct origins.

The film, titled Grafted, doesn’t delve deeply into these concepts for a significant portion of its 90-minute duration. Instead, it primarily concentrates on Wei’s sequence of body swaps and violent acts, which grow progressively exaggerated, teetering between satire and theatricality. In the film’s opening scenes, we witness an unsuccessful grafting attempt by Wei’s father resulting in his death through a CG-skin transition. As the story unfolds, Wei’s work on the serum resembles the body-swapping action featured in John Woo’s iconic movie, Face/Off.

The film Grafted may stumble by not clearly establishing the fundamental aspects of its complex storyline, instead being flexible or altering them as the narrative unfolds. Normally, viewers can adapt to anything if the guidelines for the fictional world are set early on. However, when these rules shift unexpectedly, we might become uneasy or struggle to follow along with certain scenes more easily.

Effects (Like Faces) That Don’t Stay Put

One challenge that ‘Grafted’ encounters in its visual representation lies in conveying its central idea effectively. Overlaying one face onto another can sometimes influence the appearance of the body, creating a confusing effect. Additionally, instances where faces peel or fall off appear unrealistic in certain scenes, combining elements of comedy with an unsettling, revolting feeling.

Mastering the delicate balance between revealing and concealing is frequently what makes horror and suspense so effective. A prime example of this technique is how Steven Spielberg subtly withheld the shark in Jaws for a considerable amount of time. When it was finally unveiled, the actual shark often fell short of the terrifying image we had built up in our minds. Alfred Hitchcock excelled at allowing the audience’s imagination to fill in the blanks and create tension based on that unrestrained power. In some instances, Grafted attempts to use subtle visual horrors to hint at the unknown, but there are moments when too much is shown, making it less convincing and believable.

Performances in ‘Grafted’ Vary Greatly

In the movie “Grafted“, the main female characters face challenging roles. Instead of just portraying stereotypical characters like the shy exchange student or the popular girl obsessed with her phone, they must also interact and ultimately play off each other. This adds a layer of complexity to their performances, making Wei’s character more compelling and creating a realistic and engaging effect that surpasses the impact of any computer-generated gore scenes.

Jess Hong, Eden Hart, and Joyena Sun deliver commendable, if occasionally inconsistent performances. However, there seems to be a noticeable flaw in the acting of Jared Turner as Paul, the criminal science professor. At times, it appears he’s deliberately overplaying his role as a villain, reminiscent of a character who might excessively twirl his mustache. Unfortunately, this portrayal lacks credibility as an academic figure, and the character is burdened with numerous stereotypical bad guy tropes, making frequent appearances throughout the scenes.

In the realm of Grafted, its standout aspects are undoubtedly its striking photography and chilling score. The hauntingly unique soundtrack lends an air of suspense to even the most mundane scenes, preventing them from feeling stale. Meanwhile, the vivid, captivating lighting keeps each scene vibrant and visually engaging. Director Sasha Rainbow certainly has a bright future ahead, demonstrating both thoughtfulness in her filmmaking and a talent for crafting immersive visual and auditory experiences. Beginning on January 24, 2025, you can stream Grafted exclusively on Shudder.

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2025-01-21 05:34