PICKMAN'S MUSE (review)

Starring: Barret Walz, Maurice McNicholas, Tom Lodewyk
Written & Directed By: Robert Cappelletto
Grade: B
Pickman's Muse is inspired by the H.P Lovecraft stories, "Haunter of
the Dark" and "Pickman's Model." A major motif in the film is The
Church of Starry Wisdom, also the center of Lovecraft's telling. It is
a loose telling of the events with certain similar motifs; it creates
its own story, characters, and the forces behind them. Pickman's Muse
focuses on an emotionally lost artist who unconsciously finds his way
to obsession, murder, and lies.

Robert Pickman (Walz) is a recluse, focusing on his art. Lately
though, he can't help feeling like there is something missing even
with this one thing that he completely devotes himself to. He visits a
therapist, and is suffering from depression to an extent; unable to
enjoy things in life that seem to come to other so easily to others.
Pickman is far behind on his paintings. His costumers are waiting on
him, but he just can't get himself to paint. Suddenly one night he
finds a newfound inspiration. Voices whisper to him, putting images in
his head. Pickman paints these images that others are completely
horrified and sickened by. This new muse gives him inspiration --
Pickman can't help but listen.

When Pickman turns his work in, he is told that it looks like a Goodie
Hines copycat. Pickman has never even heard of Goodie Hines though. He
finds out that Goodie is a famed artist who was obsessed with the same
images. Pickman's doctor, Dr. Dexter (McNicholas), becomes very
concerned with the resemblance between the two. Their drawings match
up exactly, as if one was traced from the other. Goodie was one of Dr.
Dexter's failed patients who ended up going crazy. Now a piece of him
seems to have resurfaced in Pickman and he sets out to destroy this at
all costs.

Barret Walz really stood out as Robert Pickman, winning the Chicago
Horror Film Festival's award for best actor. He displays a wide range
of emotions when he is being influenced by his muse. In some scenes he
seems completely composed in a trance like state. Other times he seems
shocked and horrified with himself, surprised that he is even capable
of the things he is doing and burdened by trying to keep it all a
secret. Tom Lodewyk also did an incredible job bringing out the very
creepy, Goodie Hines. His insanity is overpowering, yet he still has a
hold on his sanity. It's the only thing he cares for anymore, there is
such a desperation for even a pen; anything that will let him
translate the images flying around in his head. This overwhelming need
and the unconventionally ghastly illustrations that Goodie longs to
get out creates quite a thrilling character. Maurice McNicholas does a
decent job as Dr. Dexter, but he doesn't come off quite as genuine or
believable in his performance as Walz and Lodewyk were.

Pickman's Muse takes it's time with the pacing, but it works. It has a
heavy focus on the psychological element. This slower pacing gives
time to establish Pickman as a dissatisfied and absent state while
building the exploration of morbid inspiration and the murderous
capabilities he holds within himself. It would have been nice if we
would have been shown some of the more atrocious paintings that were
equated with the devil himself. On the other hand, it would be hard to
create something like this that met the expectations set by the
context the paintings were in. The parallels between Pickman and
Goodie Hines are filled with interesting material, and subtext. For
me, the storyline with Dr. Dexter trying to stop Pickman didn't
capture my interest quite as well. Still, I can see its intent to add
a bit of tension and escalate the climax. The transitions Pickman goes
through are really what make the film so captivating. It offers the
question of whether he is doing this for the sake of art, sanity, or
simply out of weakness and the inability to ignore the voices.

Pickman's Muse was made on a $5,000 budget, which is completely
astounding. The production values are pretty solid, the locations and
sets are atmospheric, and realistic; and the soundtrack really helps
set the tone. Including an actual abandoned church really adds to the
creepiness and mystery that the image of the church represents.
Shooting for the film lasted over 2 years and it is clear that it has
been a passion project of Cappelletto's for some time, which shows in
the film.

- Kelsey Zukowski