They Look Like People (2015)

November 29, 2020 5:28 PM

Suspecting that people around him are turning into evil creatures, a troubled man questions whether to protect his only friend from an impending war, or from himself.

Rotten Tomatoes: This is one of those pictures with a pretty big discrepancy between the Tomatometer and the audience score: 92% fresh on the Tomatometer versus 59% audience score.

L.A. Times: What terrifies most in “They Look Like People” is the threat inside rather than anything external. This unease is mixed with a rather sweet message about friendship and connection between old friends, and how ultimately trust can be a salve for a psychic wound.

Available on Amazon Prime.

posted by holborne (4 comments total)

As I’ve said around here before, I recommend this picture so often that people must think my uncle made it or something, but no. I do think it’s a seriously underwatched and criminally underrated movie. I’m not exactly sure I’d call it a true horror movie; it may be more of a psychological thriller. But it’s one of the few pictures I’ve seen that has a mentally ill main characters without patronizing the mentally ill, and it does a beautiful job of portraying the literally life-saving friendship between the two main characters. Also the ending made me cry.
posted by holborne at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2020 [2 favorites]

I watched this a few years ago and it really surprised me. Like holborne, I thought it had a pretty delicate touch on how it handled mental illness in the film. This is one of the few examples of one of these kinds of movies where all of the fear and suspense you feel isn't of the mentally ill person so much as for them.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 9:08 PM on November 29, 2020 [2 favorites]

I watched this a few years ago, and I think it’s really great. As no-budget suspense movies go, it’s among my favorites.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 9:43 PM on November 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Just watched this because of the conversation and recommendations here and agreed on the reviews: I thought it was excellent.

Hugely tense at times, nearly unbearably so in a few spots which is a sign of good film making. The scenes with the nail gun and the acid were extremely effective. The tension wouldn't work if it wasn't for the writing and performances, which I thought were solid throughout. I think if you fundamentally dislike the "mumble gore" genre, I'm not sure this will win you over as it's a subdued and not exactly action-packed film.

Also, agreed on the subject matter: I think the horror of your own brain lying to you is something that's not often explored well or sensitively in the genre.
posted by slimepuppy at 11:53 AM on November 30, 2020 [4 favorites]