New Aussie Horror Flick Puzzle Box Is A Twisted Screamfest

Puzzle Box is a new twisted Aussie horror flick filmed in Sydney & Canberra and directed by local filmmaker Jack Dignan.

The story centres on Katie, a young woman suffering from substance abuse who travels with her sister Olivia to a house in the middle of nowhere to rehabilitate herself, and Olivia films Katie’s progress.

Soon after entering the house arguments arise between the two and the tranquil mood quickly alters. Katie’s addiction has brought pain and agony to those closest to her, especially her mother who has passed away.

“You’ve been to rehab three times, and you’re drugged out of your mind! I can’t get you clean over and over again!” Olivia screams, which only arouses more angst.

Sinister occurrences commence and it seems they’re both trapped in a house which is seemingly a macabre puzzle box.

What commences as a healing exercise for a week in the bush leads to inescapable hideousness. Will Katie overcome her addiction but more importantly who is the mysterious intruder, and will they find their way out of this house of horrors?

This movie is filmed using the found footage process which is a cinematic technique where the events are recorded by the characters in the story. What compounds to the realism of the narrative is the shaky camera work which appears raw and unedited.

The Blair Witch Project was the first film to use this technique followed by many others notably Paranormal Activity which spawned seven movies in the franchise.

This process of storytelling works well for these style of films as it incites suspense and an uneasy feeling that what is seen on  screen is actually real.

Under the astute direction of Jack Dignam and authentic performances by the small cast, audiences should be unsettled as the movie progresses. The usual scare tactics are employed to maximise the anticipated nervousness, such as screams in the dark, minimal lighting and unexplained noises – but most effective is ‘the unseen’.

Filmed on a shoestring budget Puzzle Box is a labour of love and highlights that huge budgets are not required to produce satisfactory horror flicks which successfully deliver chills and screams of terror.

Adversely, the story is somewhat ambiguous and difficult to follow in the second half where flashbacks are utilised to complement the storytelling process. The blood drenched final act is somewhat disconcerting – was it imaginary or real?

Audiences who don’t fall nauseous from the motion sickness brought upon by the found footage process and actually make it to the final frames of the movie may find they’re left with more questions than answers – even after encore viewings.

**1/2

Available to watch now on streaming services.