“Are You There?” Unleashes a Chilling Game with a Thrilling Trailer and Poster

Childhood games can often carry a darker undertone. From the notorious “Bloody Mary” to Ouija boards, there’s an intriguing allure to how innocent pastimes can morph into encounters with the supernatural. Dark Sky Films introduces “Are You There?” which takes the classic game of 20 Questions and twists it into a chilling ordeal where each wrong answer leads to deadly consequences.

Director Kim Noonan, recognized for the psychological suspense of “Nyctophobia,” delves into the unsettling aspects of familiar traditions. This film follows Rosa Gonzalez (Laura Sollet), a student of paranormal psychology, whose quest for knowledge takes a terrifying turn. Upon lighting a ritual candle and asking, “Are you there?”, she inadvertently sets off a sinister questioning game where each inquiry inches her closer to either enlightenment or fatality.

The concept seems straightforward, yet it effectively taps into our innate fears of the unknown and the risks associated with seeking hidden truths. Noonan skillfully builds suspense through simplistic yet potent visuals. As the candle’s wax melts, serving as a foreboding timer, it reinforces the idea that some inquiries may be best left unposed.

Concurrently, the narrative follows twin sisters Rose and Azalea (Eva Meyerson and Madison Geiger) along with their friend Brooks, who find themselves trapped in a terrifying scenario during a monster-infested power outage, relying solely on their phone lights. This subplot cleverly critiques our reliance on technology, which proves useless against age-old malevolence.

What differentiates “Are You There?” from standard VOD horror movies is its intricate psychological narrative. The screenplay by Brian S. Tedeschi and Vicki Vass moves beyond predictable jump scares and paranormal threats, focusing instead on humanity’s urge to challenge the limits of understanding, even when they exist to safeguard us. Rosa’s grounding in paranormal studies lends authenticity to her risky choices as she ventures into unforeseen dangers.

The film’s visual style merits recognition; the lighting, especially where the ritual candle’s glow wanes, amplifies the feeling of mounting anxiety. Each shadow morphs into a latent menace, while every shift in light symbolizes a flicker of hope or despair. Limiting the characters’ light sources – through the candle and mobile devices – compels both them and the audience to face their own dread of darkness, both in reality and in a deeper sense.

Even though “Are You There?” occasionally treads familiar genre paths, it revitalizes the supernatural horror field with its fresh angle and reflective storytelling. It shows that the most unsettling queries we confront are not always directed at spirits, but rather those we must face about our own arrogance in trying to connect the world of the living with whatever lies in the beyond.

The film premieres in select theaters and will be available on VOD starting February 7th, 2025. For horror fans intrigued by the blend of scholarly curiosity and supernatural peril, “Are You There?” promises to be a thought-provoking experience that resonates well after the credits conclude.