My Thoughts On Marshmallow
Marshmallow begins by paying some deliberate homage to the summer camp horror classics of the 1980s, before it quickly reveals itself to be more than just a nostalgic retread.
The film follows Morgan, a 12-year-old boy attending a secluded summer camp for the first time. He’s quiet, emotionally withdrawn, and clearly out of his depth socially.
But rather than relying on familiar tropes for cheap thrills, the film instead uses them as a framework to explore something deeper. It asks what it means for a child to confront fear, real fear, and how to push past isolation in order to survive, connect, and take action.
The tension in Marshmallow builds pretty steadily, very steadily in fact, as if it is not there a lot of the time, but it’s the shift in tone during the second half that will catch a lot off guard, as it begins to fracture into something stranger and more psychologically complex.
The cinematography evokes the aesthetic of 1980s horror, and captures Camp Almar in rich, saturated tones, and Nicholas Elert’s score alternates between playful melodies that capture the youthful energy of the campers and ominous cues that foreshadow what’s to come.
Synthesizer elements are used not just for retro effect, but to draw a line between the world of childhood fantasy and the intrusion of a very real danger.
Although, it didn't need to be as loud as it was at times.
Performance-wise, the supporting cast are fine, nothing amazing, just fine. Max Malas and Kai Cech, who play Morgan’s closest friends, Dirk and Pilar, have a friendship that feels messy and awkward at times, much like actual kids trying to figure each other out.
And Giorgia Whigham, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, and Pierson Fode lean into those classic camp counselor archetypes, but they do it with just enough self-awareness to keep it from having a seen it all before vibe
But it's Kue Lawrence (Morgan) who is at the heart of the film, and is a character a lot of people will see in themselves, either now or when younger. He's relatable and incredibly likable, and Morgan puts in a decent enough performance.
The film is a bit weird, though, and if you watch it you will know what I mean, as I don't want to give away any spoilers. It was an OK watch overall, and I appreciated the deeper themes at play, but would have liked more tension throughout.
Marshmallow is basically about a kid who is learning how to not run, but finally face what scares him most. It’s about fear, isolation, and figuring out who you are when everything safe is stripped away.
I respected what was attempted here, even if the pacing was off and the execution not exactly great.
Just don't go in expecting 'scares' or much slasher action. It's more a gateway horror film, and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, but more in a know what to expect kind of way.
Marshmallow will catch a lot of hate I think, with people expecting something a bit heavier, but if you know what you expect, and if you look a bit deeper, it has something to say, and sometimes does it well.