Written and directed by Shal Ngo, a motivational speaker, plagued by an uncontrollable itch on her head, becomes infected with a parasitic demon from her homeland. Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Miles Robbins, Callie Johnson, Kieu Chinh, Zack Gold, Chelsea Parsons and Scott Takeda.
Fair warning, if the itching and scratching of simply watching the trailer is too much, this is not for you. Shal Ngo is ready and raring to make you highly uncomfortable with Control Freak and that itch is a key element to the entire film. In that sense, this will work for some and may be quicky switched off by others, so it’s good to know what you’re getting into. Ngo has creating something that is genuinely difficult to watch at many points all throughout. So, the real question is: does it have enough to offer to make that discomfort worth the watch?
The answer is stuck somewhere between yes and no, Ngo has a good concept and Kelly Marie Tran gives an excellent performance so there are strong elements at work. However, the story of heritage and the supernatural, superstitious side of things feel underexplored. Especially as it resolves itself in a simple manner, it could have had more meaning, but it hadn’t given the story enough time to develop to strike a real note of reflection. It’s slow to progress, which intensifies that focus on the itching even more but that’s not enough to sustain it.
Although one of the interesting things is how it frames Val’s (Kelly Marie Tran) husband Robbie (Miles Robbins) as a good partner, when he sincerely is not. It’s a good example of selfish behaviour, he acknowledges that she has a problem but does not actively attempt to help her, other than suggesting she go to a doctor. He’s increasingly frustrated as she does not seek help herself, resents her for not taking better care of herself and at no real point does he notice how bad it becomes or take any real action.
Another topic it dips into is negative relationships with family members, and the old adage of ‘but they’re your family’. It’s that sort of toxic coverall that implies no matter what you’ve been put through, you’re required to continue a relationship with that person. It’s a very unhealthy attitude and again coming from Robbie. It’s touches like that which feel well chosen but not woven enough into the story to tell whether they’re truly intentional and self-aware.
The strengths of Control Freak really lie with firstly the tension, which is boosted by some sharp editing work from Dagmawi Abebe, although the directorial style can feel more crime drama than horror-thriller. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is the performance from Kelly Marie Tran who is incredibly underrated for the intensity and captivating presence that she brings.
Which is exactly what she does here, it’s a fantastic mix of strength and vulnerability, Val’s unquestionably determined but also broken. The internal conflict mixing with the external conflict creates a lot of suspense as you wait to find out which will ultimately win, and if she’ll survive the fallout. Fans of Tran should also check out her other recent feature Me, Myself & the Void which is a genuinely delightful piece of indie cinema.
Control Freak feels underdeveloped, Shal Ngo built an interesting foundation, but it feels like the film got so distracted by the itching, it forgot to delve into all the questions it’s asking. The cultural and religious side of things lingers in the background rather than taking hold to fill out the story. The direction is solid but missing a bigger personality or edge, although the editing work does try to elevate that. Kelly Marie Tran is excellent, unfortunately her performance isn’t quite enough to bring this together, it’s hindered by its slow pacing and missing layers.
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