Having now had the chance to watch Antebellum, the debut feature from the
writing/directing team of Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, more than once
it becomes glaringly obvious where the faults lie with the film. The plot,
which tries to be both horror and drama but inevitably ends up being not
much of either, is so full of holes that it just about defies belief. I
won’t give much away for fear of spoiling the viewing experience, and in
fairness on first viewing and with a limited knowledge of the storyline,
there is a half decent film in there.
Beginning with a terrific tracking shot that seems to last forever we’re
taken to the Deep South during the American Civil War and a cotton
plantation run by a Confederate soldier who is only known only as Captain
Jasper (Jack Huston). Helping him run the plantation is his equally
sadistic wife Elizabeth (Jena Malone). The slave who appears to take the
most of Captain Jasper’s wrath is Eden (Janelle Monae), a head strong slave
who, each evening, is forced to sleep with a despicable Confederate leader
known only as “Him” (Eric Lange).
Then like a bolt from the blue we are transported to the present day with
Eden waking up in a modern apartment, now called Veronica she is a
successful author and is married with a young daughter. You might wonder
what’s happening as faces from her slave past keep cropping up in the
present time and things do look promising but look under the surface and
Antebellum has a plot that’s as thin as paper and one that really doesn’t
stand up to any close scrutiny. Go in blind you might find something to
enjoy but if you know anything about the inevitable twist at the end you’ll
spend most of the running time scratching your head in amazement, and not
in a good way.
