Jelly Beans (2016)
Chase Will
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Starring Kyle Petitjean, Brett Checkelsky, Kat Harman, Scott Yoder
Directed by Lucas Ostrowski
Jelly Beans is a movie that demands to be viewed twice—once for pure enjoyment, and again to really enjoy the ambiguous mythology.
Easter has a different meaning to everyone. For some people it’s a holy day about Jesus, for others it’s an opportunity for romance and manipulative conquests, and, for a select few, it’s a time for black mass and demonic summoning via colored eggs and pentagram pageantry. In Jelly Beans, several of these stories are viewed from the perspective of a sinister presence in a bunny costume, and through much murder and mayhem, we’re clued in to how the timeless symbol of Easter views our various human foibles.
Jelly Beans, directed by Lucas Ostrowski, is a blend of everything that made Trick or Treat (1986) and Trick ‘r Treat (2007) work so well. The VHS graininess and Carpenter-esque soundtrack complement the absolute weirdness of the storylines, and give the impression you’re watching an unlabeled videotape from the back of your dad’s attic. The Easter Bunny connects the stories of Jelly Beans in a way similar to how Samhain connects Trick ‘r Treat and how Art the Clown connects All Hallows’ Eve, wandering from story to story and becoming increasingly aggressive as the nature of his presence is revealed.
I’d feel weird saying this in any other context, but the Easter Bunny in this movie creeped me out big time. The large, expressionless eyes on the mask do more for the costume than gore or over-the-top effects alternatively would, and I’m extremely satisfied by the character’s lack of dialogue and the absence of exposition about his murderous ways. Whether intentional or not, it reminded me of The Shape in Halloween (1978) before he was given an identity and backstory, and it strengthens the anthology.
But what does it all mean? What’s the big message we’re supposed to take away from all the creepiness? Gosh, that’s a good question; I’ve watched Jelly Beans a few times now, and each time I come away with a different message, each as certain as the last. Like any good artwork, its meaning seems to be dependent on the viewer and what clues they actively seek out. It stands out from other anthologies by offering just enough puzzle pieces to attract cerebral viewers, but not so many that it drives away casual horror fans. The only thing I can say for certain is it’s the sort of unique, entertaining experience I hope for every time I sit down for a movie.
Will you leave this movie with all mental facilities intact, or will your mind explode like Peeps in a microwave? A line spoken by an egg-dyeing cultist portends the likely answer: The more you immerse the egg, the darker it gets.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
