The Honeymoon Phase

Even though this movie is far from being the first of its kind, there's potential at the beginning for something a bit original. Sadly, it soon turns out the story needed much more work. The ending is ridiculous.

Don't get fooled by the 10/10 reviews, they're all coming from new subscribers who are obviously here on a mission. Some of their nicknames are even related to the movie in a way or another, like johnjcarroll-61039 or bcarroll-37501 (Phillip G. Carroll Jr. directed the movie). Couldn't be more obvious...

Released the same year, Vivarium is in my opinion a much better attempt.

It started out with a good synopsis and was interesting for the first 45 mins then it all went down hill very quickly. The acting becomes pretty horrible around half way through and the ending is just ridiculous and pointless which offers no explanation to what's happening and leaves you wondering what was the point of the whole movie. Very poorly executed and a waste of 90 mins on the aircraft I could have otherwise spent sleeping!

I adamantly follow many indie horror filmmakers online and became acquainted with The Carrolls' work on YouTube as far back as 2016. Having been heartbroken many times from seeing many short film filmmakers climb that 'feature film mountain' and not quite stick the landing, I'm always nervous to see anyone's debut features, but I'm wholeheartedly relieved 'that ember' I recognized in them is a 'warm and fiery arrival' to the big stage. Their shorts throughout the years has always been of quality, but their debut reaches an additional tier of polish and effective storytelling that deserves recognition, that 'glass ceiling' many of us horror filmmakers aspire to breakthrough. I truly feel they've 'arrived' and are contenders with much promise that, in the long-term, many will find much thrills and enjoyment from.

3 out of 5 stars.

The Honeymoon Phase is a fair science fiction thriller film. About a newly wed couple going into an experiment trial. As the company observes how the couple are reacting towards each other for a month. They are given a house. Food. Furniture and supplies. Until the wife starts questioning if her husband is lying to her.

Interesting concept and plot. Could have been so much more. The script does fall apart by the time it reaches its third act. The writer feels like they ran out of ideas on where to go. When the twist is revealed which is surprising. But it falls so quick that it ruined the whole movie. Especially the ending.

The cast did decent with there performances. The direction was okay. The script and ending kind of wasted a good idea to having an uninspired shocking ending.

This is incredibly idiotic from its inception, delivery and execution. The acting is poor and none of the cast were good enough to make this film any thing more than being watchable.