Nashville Film Festival 56: "The True Beauty Of Being Bitten By A Tick" Review

"The True Beauty Of Being Bitten By A Tick" Poster, courtesy of Nashville Film Festival

To be truly unsettled in an age where over-the-top gore and absurd body horror reign supreme in horror movies is a commodity; “The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick” nods to the fundamentals of the genre while blazing its own path as a skin-crawling, artistically driven story that plays on both real and imagined fears.

The beautiful and sometimes unconventional shots by director, producer and cinematographer Pete Ohs, combined with the incredibly disturbing score by sound designer Danny Madden, harmonize to create an increasingly terrifying landscape with stunning visuals.

From the remarkable chemistry between actors Zoë Chao and Callie Hernandez to the moderate pacing of the narrative, the film plants viewers in a world that feels much like this one but just slightly off-center. 

Visceral shots of main-character Yvonne pulling out a tick from her shoulder and later eating something that looks not unlike insects itself are sure to make audiences squirm in their seats, but what truly unnerves in this film is the escalating feeling of entrapment. 

Maybe this is due to subtleties in the leading four actors' performances and enhancements made in post production like the warm color-grade, but no matter; the viewer is invited to stay in Camille’s gorgeous remote home with Yvonne and is subjected to every emotion she feels throughout the hour and 20 minute runtime. 

The true jaw-dropping moment is the second to last scene where Chao’s character walks outside in the dead of night after Camille gives birth and is confronted with a surrealist monster of sorts which personifies many of the fears Ohs sows throughout the film. 

If Ohs proved anything with “The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick” it’s that to stun and frighten audiences, all that’s needed is a talented crew and a cohesive vision.

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This article was written by Haley Ramsey.