How False Positive Ignited My Interest In Horror/Thriller Films

Those who know me well would be the first to say that I am not that big a fan of the horror genre. Like any person, I have my likes and dislikes but the horror genre for me never fit into either-or. It rested comfortably in between, never tipping to either side of the scale. Today I had a meeting cancelled and suddenly found myself with 2 hours of free time. I could've used this time to catch up on some much-needed sleep or maybe write, eat or anything under the sun. But instead, I browsed some new films of 2021 and found False Positive (2021).

For those who don't know, A24 is an independent entertainment company that produces films and tv shows. Sounds pretty normal? Wrong. A24 has been one of the most consistent and underrated independent studios working today. They have an unbelievable catalogue of projects under their belt.

To name just a few...

(from left to right: Good Time (2017), Euphoria (2019-Present), Ex Machina (2014), The Lighthouse (2019), Uncut Gems (2019), Moonlight (2016), Lady Bird (2017)

It's an understatement to say that this is an impressive lineup of films but the list goes on. A24 has a growing catalogue of aesthetically pleasing films drowned in mystery and dark in nature.

Now, False Positive, and in case you're wondering... yes it will be spoiler-free so relax.

I went into this film completely blind. All I knew was it was Pierce Brosnan was a doctor who looked evil. Ish. So I started it. I have to say from the opening scene it just hooked me. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. I forgot all sense of time and responsibility and just enjoyed a really great film for the first time in a while. Even though I suspected that I might not be too crazy about it because of the horror stuff and also had this bugging image of ILana Glazer's character giving birth to some demon child something ridiculous like that. First note: No mother-to-be that's currently expecting should see this. Like no. Second Note: The people who came up with this concept are such geniuses, but need to be on a list. Like on general principle. The horror of this film isn't in its impossibility but in its possibility. What I mean by that is that real-life situations may actually share circumstances with this film.

(ILana Glazer in False Positive)

The film is far from the best that the horror genre has to offer, I do think that it is a soft introduction to the wide and whacky world of the horror genre which I am keen to dive more deeply into.

The film is underrated and will most likely go down as another underappreciated A24 gem. It doesn't compete with such amazing cinematic achievements as The Lighthouse by Robbert Eggers or Moonlight by Barry Jenkins, but it certainly is more than an earnest attempt at horror that has given the horror genre a less than desirable name. What I can say before you watch this film is that don't approach it as a full-on horror flick to be enjoyed with your bloodthirsty buddies in a dark room and a blanket wrapped around your heads. It is a horror/thriller. This will definitely disappoint the horror flick fandom as scarier films have been made and False Positive hardly even holds a candle to The Exorcist (1973) which in my opinion is one of the godfathers of the horror genre, but nonetheless False Positive is a great watch with an underrated cast alongside some sensational cinematography and sound design.

What is your biggest pet peeve of the horror genre? How underappreciated is A24 as a whole? Comment down below! Thanks for reading and stay safe! Au Revoir!