The name Slapface might lead you to expect a standard horror movie in line with films like Slender Man or The Bye Bye Man; thankfully, this couldn't be further from what the film delivers. This atmospheric and captivating movie, written and directed by Jeremiah Kipp, is everything but a typical story about teenagers dying, and while it includes supernatural elements, its real, underlying horror is sadly all too familiar. More than just a horror film, Kipp has created a modern fable, and his allegorical style prevents what could have been an obvious and exploitative lesson from becoming an indirect and subtle statement (though that changes somewhat with the final credits). At the heart of the story is a performance by August Maturo that’s surprisingly mature for a 14-year-old. He plays Lucas, an orphaned boy living in a cabin outside a small town with his older brother and self-proclaimed guardian Tom (Mike Manning), who struggles with alcoholism. Tom hides his physical abuse of Lucas behind the guise of the game described in the title. Lucas is also physically tormented by “the twins” (Bianca D'Ambrosio and Chiara D'Ambrosio) and emotionally abused by their friend Moriah (Mirabelle Lee), who seems to be either a victim of peer pressure or simply cruel. This is primarily a story about the characters, filmed in locations that feel both realistic and dreamlike – the eerie autumn woods of Newburgh, New York almost become a character themselves. Even “the Monster,” portrayed by Lukas Hassel with prosthetic makeup, avoids being a generic CGI creation. Turning bullying into a literal monster (if Kipp intended this) might seem too straightforward an approach (and the ending text undermines the purpose of using allegory), but it’s more complex than it appears. The monster in Slapface isn't a simple creature like those found in films such as A Quiet Place; I’d even say it shares similarities with Frankenstein’s creation, and its uncertainty cleverly mirrors Moriah’s treatment of Lucas. The film doesn’t end on a hopeful note, but at least it avoids the predictable final scene suggesting that evil will persist.

Source on TMDB