Written and directed: Prano Bailey-Bond
Memory can be as much a boon or a curse to humankind. The race has progressed thus far because we can learn and put into memory what we have learnt. With that ability, we can reproduce it as and when needed.
But then, therein lies the problem. Keeping other memories, especially the unpleasant ones and those affecting the matters of the heart, can be unsettling and counterproductive. Just for how long one wants to hold a grudge for hurt caused? Does anger have an expiry date, upon which scores are cleared dry on the slate?
That is why our mind has an in-built pruning mechanism to cut off unpleasant memories that can stunt our progress. Sadly, a small group of people do not forget or forgive. They must be the most unhappiest of the people on the planet. Perhaps, the next serial killer too!
Even at best, Man uses less than 10% of his brain connexions. Scientists are perplexed by the many dormant areas of the brain and wonder if they form part of the remnants of our reptilian brain. Will they recoil to provoke primal reactions in the wake of provocation? Like domesticated animals, are we trained to behave? Or are we inherently evil, waiting for the ripe moment to pounce and assume the goriest forms of our inner selves? Testimonials of these are apparent in court documents of our crimes. Is evil inherent, or is it a learnt experience? Can we blame literature and films for this? Is there a need for a nanny to supervise what we see and read? Do we need censorship? Is it not that Nature cruel enough? History has picturised humans as animals who would do anything for food, wealth, mate and power.
There was a time in the 80s with the sea of VHS tapes and nasty mind-numbing meaningless gory horror films. There was a call in the UK for stricter censorship of these films. The problem arose when a man mimicked a scene from one of these horror movies when he killed his wife. Enid, a diligent worker in the British Film Board of Censors, is singularly blamed for approving the film to be screened. In reality, Enid takes it upon herself as a moral guardian and is strict in controlling the element of gore in movies. In reality, the husband had never seen the movie to mimic the killing technique. He did it out of his frustration.
Enid has a dark past in her childhood. Her sister went missing when Enid and her sister, Nina, were playing at the edge of a forest. Nina was never found as information about Nina's disappearance was fuzzy as Enid could not accurately explain what happened.
While reviewing one particular film, the florid memories of her suppressed past come alive. It was about two sisters and getting lost in a jungle. Enid's interest is piqued. She suspects the movie's director had something to do with her sister's disappearance. Enid soon goes into a frenzy, assuming many things and going berserk as she puts two and two together.
This movie is said to be as exciting as 'The Blair Witch Project' when it came out, i.e. before we found out the whole footing was staged. Initially, 'The Blair Witch Project' kicked up a storm when it was marketed as lost footage of some college students searching for some spirit in a jungle. The students were missing, but their camcorder was found, and the raw footage was made into a movie. It took the living daylights off me and remained one of my best horror films.
