Starring horror veteran Barbara Crampton (RE-ANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND, BEYOND THE GATES) and indie actress Sarah Hagan (OJ: THE MUSICAL, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), SUN CHOKE is a deep character study of a woman, Janie (Hagan) recovering from a psychotic breakdown through brutal means at the control of her nanny, Irma (Crampton). However, just as she thinks she has her life back in her hands, her past comes to haunt her after she takes an unnatural obsession of a young woman, Savannah (Sara Malukul Lane).

 

SUN CHOKE is in no other term, arthouse horror. A marrying of the pseudo-sexual thrillers of the 90’s in a filter. The abusive nature to Janie’s rehabilitation may or may not be the cause to her breakdown but the lack of a linear structure never really clarifies what is, or has, happened to this troubled woman. This is the films blessing and curse; Cursed to alienate audiences who want a structured story but a blessing in that it gives the Cresciman’s film a life of its own.

 

Every moment Hagan and Crampton are on screen, the intimidation and control Crampton has over her co-star is apparent and mesmerising to watch. A simple stare, an authoritive request, all portrayed with little more than Crampton’s stature and ease which has given her a career that has lasted decades with now bringing her best performances. Just take a look at WE ARE STILL HERE and BEYOND THE GATES, along with SUN CHOKE, show a different side to her that was perhaps overlooked with her classics from thirty years before.

 

Here we see two leads playing of each other and it is only when Crampton is off screen that Hagan’s performance takes the limelight as her manic history rears its ugly head and she takes over as dominant in favour for Lane becoming the submissive.

 

At moments horrific, others magnetising. SUN CHOKE is a film that only fans of arthouse cinema (think Lars Von Trier meets STARRY EYES) will enjoy but by God will they do so. Balancing a low budget with a relatively amateur cast, it all gels together in a strange spiral of storytelling and brilliant performances.