...it often proves interesting when a genre writer or filmmaker takes an observation of unconvention...that is, 'unconventional' to that of an established and status-quo accepted 'norm', but perhaps, for all intent and purpose, completely 'normal' to the subject of said observation's origin, as well as those who subscribe to it...and weaves a literary mythos of originality and intrigue, with said subject as the protagonistic centerpiece. Few and far between situations, exactly like this, tend to somewhat dispel the sometimes resigned suggestion that the best of creative and imaginative ideas, with regards to the genres of horror and dark fantasy, are all used up...that 'the well' has run dry, in that respect. And yet, every once in a while, that very thing indeed occurs, and when it does, we of the devoted fright film aficionados, have every reason to gleefully revel and rejoice. Such is the case, when director Chad Crawford Kindle, in pondering upon his next project...his first feature film...happened to venture in and around one particular Northern Georgian pottery exhibit, came upon a most interesting (..and creepy, to say the least) discovery, and had an epiphany...a vision...an idea for a most chilling film, wrought with mystery, intrigue and unmitigated horror, beyond imagination and belief...
...Ada (...in a doey-eyed brilliant depiction of unbridled innocence, by actress Lauren Ashley Carter...last seen, genre-wise, in the outstanding 2011 shocker, "The Woman")...a young lass, living in a backwoods community, unswervingly rigid in pagan religious practices...is in the midst of frustratingly emotional complications. Indelibly engaged in a forbidden love with her brother, Jessaby (Daniel Manche), she abruptly finds herself the unwilling participant in an arranged marriage with a young member of a neighboring sect. However, such frustration pales in comparison to the horror instilled, when Ada inadvertently discovers that she is next in line to be sacrificed, for the good of the community. You see, it seems that this particular community worships the spiritual dissidents of a healing pit, deep in the woods; to appease these creatures, which allow the healing powers of the pit, in exchange for a blood sacrifice, the community calls upon a lone and crazed sculpture prophet in their midst, named Dawai (Shawn Bridgers), who foretells the next person to be sacrificed, when he falls into a trance, creates a ceramic jug bearing the facial visage likeness of the next victim, and presents it to the head council of the community..
...stopping by Dawai's rustic pottery shack, after having secretively met with Jessaby, in the woods, Ada inadvertently finds the sculptor prophet's most recent jug...strikingly carved and sculpted in Ada's facial likeness. In absolute horror and panic, she snatches up the jug...unbeknownst to Dawai, who seems to never remember what he does, when he falls into his trances, up to the point when he presents the next jug to the council...runs deep into the woods, and hides the jug. Hurrying back to the community and her family, Ada finds that she must now contend with having to marry someone whom she does not love...indeed, someone whom she doesn't even know, having to pass specific tests which ensure her purity for such an engagement, and having to further conceal the forbidden love, which she has engaged in...little realizing the horrific things, which she has indelibly set into motion, in denying the pit, it's intended sacrifice...a sacrifice, which will happen, one way or another. After all, the pit wants, what it wants...and it will get what it wants, no matter what...
...of course, no matter what ecclesiastic venue one might devotedly subscribe to...even if one chooses to not to embrace such venues...a examination of the darker side of religion, whether genuine or fictionally manufactured, has almost never failed to instill a respectable measure of controversy and provocative intrigue, in genre films. The grim and mysterious puritan horrors, in Wes Craven's "Deadly Blessing". The arcane and grisly Voodoo-based alchemist rituals, in films like "Angel Heart", "The Believers" and "The Serpent and the Rainbow". The demonic invocations, suggested in "The Village", and the classic, "The Wicker Man". As an ardent viewer of genre films, of this type...again, no matter what one believes...one cannot help but be invariably torn, as far as being unnerved & appealed, and at the same time, irresistibly intrigued & captivated. And it is into this fold, which "Jug Face" finds itself fittingly pulled into, and categorized...as well as pulling in us hapless viewers, once again, as far as this sub-genre...
...the chilling and compelling story itself is rendered quite intelligently, and surprisingly enough, as viewers get caught up in these ghastly proceedings, it becomes quite understandable and outright acceptable, as to why the characters herein, consider the unswerving & devoted worship of a healing pit, the supposed & demandant creatures lying within said pit, and the ritualistic resignation of a supernaturally-rendered 'lottery', to appease said creatures, as the 'norm'. And yet, no matter how horrific these ghastly events might be, there's also a sense of tortured tension, with regards to the inner morality of some of the characters, in this backwoods congregation...those devoted to it, and those wanting to escape it's terrors...a sense of 'this is the way it is, and the invocation of the sacrifice, is for the greater good of the community...and to go against that invocation, in favor of self preservation, is selfish and sacrilegious; that's the way that it has always been, and how it will always be'...
...but then, the monstrously dark and supernatural facet of this backwoods congregation, is hardly the solo host of these horrific affairs. Actor Larry Fessenden, here bearing more than a slightly striking resemblance to Jack Nicholson, is a most intimidatingly dominant presence, both as Ada's hard-handed father, and as the community leader & patriarch, charged with keeping the peace amongst the community, in skewed and unwavering parallel with the sacrificial demands of the pit demons. In a shiveringly dynamic turn...even as far as casting an even more sinister shadow over Ada's plight...genre actress Sean Young is deliciously cast as Ada's mother...an overwhelmingly ferocious, and even a bit sado-masochistic character...who has her own ideas about discipline and child rearing, as diabolically unorthodox as they might be...suspecting Ada of indiscretions at almost every turn. And when those suspicions are confirmed...well, the result isn't exactly pretty. And then there's actor Sean Bridgers, as the seemingly half witted Dawai...who, despite his delegatedly adept skills at ceramics, as well as acting as reluctantly possessed 'vessel' for the forest-thicketed force beyond...may have a lot more on the ball upstairs, as far as self-preservation, than most might consider...a sense of self preservation, which unfortunately, might well prove to be his undoing....
...as if the film itself, wasn't fascinating enough, the DVD contains a pretty extensive and intimate look at the making of the film, with all parties involved...both behind, and in front of the camera...expressing a gush of delight, fun and appreciation, for the opportunity to engage such a brilliant and gleefully macabre script. Director Chan Crawford Kindle himself, leads the fascinating behind-the-scenes proceedings, in this respect, relating the evolution of "Jug Face", from conception, to final frame filmed, with the eerie-looking face jugs (...in reality, used to house and contain the...er, the 'local beverage', to put things gently) being the coupling catalyst, from view to view. One cannot help but denote a distinct measure of passion and pride, for this particularly exceptional and wholly original project, from all participants...and deservedly so, in this viewer's book...
... a most unconventional and offbeat excursion into horror, to say the least; nonetheless, one that will definitely chill to the bone, and invoke the need for nail-biting remedies. "Jug Face" might run off the beaten path, as far as what might be expected, in this genre, but that's part of it's 'charm'...understatedly, a most captivating and thought-provoking, albeit shiver-inducing viewing experience...Definitely Recommended...
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