Film Journal 2024: The King Tide
Directed by Christian Sparkles
I tried hard to catch this in theaters but couldn’t make it work. Was happy to catch up with it now that it’s on VOD and Hoopla, as it felt like it would be my kind of movie. It has elements of horror, drama, spiritual and philosphical reflection, thriller, and has a strong sense of place and setting.
There is a moral dilemma at play that is fascinating to watch play out, and I love how it uses this to then flesh out the community dynamic of this small, isolated village. It really does feel like there is a lot more hanging in the balance than the initial optimism and excitement this community initially exhibits and expresses understands and recognizes. It is these untold and somewhat hidden tensions that guide the story forward through the unusual nature of its present circumstances. A seemingly good and positive turn of events feels like it is stirring what are some deeply rooted primal instincts. Which makes this an equally interesting study of human nature.
An under the radar gem that has much to offer both on the cinematic and thematic front.
The Stories of my Life 