[Film Review] White Demise (2020)

There’s something especially sinister about stories that explore gun violence in the United States. While many horror directors are able to use religious motifs or supernatural forces to explain away evil, plots that incorporate gun violence rely solely on the abstract cruelty of human nature. Director Daeil Kim tackles these complex emotions in his first feature-length film White Demise (2021), a psychological-thriller that personifies the true power of a gun. 

When Sam (Kelly MacDougall), a doting mother, decides to pursue alternative medicine in the form of a life-saving bullet for her sick daughter, she is forced to face reality when her choice has drastic consequences. She must embark on a mission to find the man with “white bullets,” but that means working alongside the man that shot and killed her daughter.

Director Daeil Kim wrote White Demise in response to his own experience with gun violence and mass shootings following his immigration to the United States from Seoul, South Korea. The increase in gun violence across the U.S. came as a significant culture shock, especially after residing in a country with strict gun regulations, according to Kim. The film takes a unique, neutral perspective to the objective concept of a gun. Working as a commentary on the political and cultural notion of gun ownership, bullets are able to both harm and save others. 

The audience follows Sam, who is initially shown as a devoted caretaker to her sick daughter, through a series of flashbacks and retellings from different perspectives. The film’s entire premise begins as a flashback as Sam explains her decisions to Lillian (Olivia Storm) once they’ve reconnected in what the audience can presume to be heaven. While the film is primarily told through Sam’s perspective, the audience eventually realizes that she might not be telling the entire truth.

Kim chose to explain the complex power behind a gun by personifying the bullets, portraying them as individuals trapped within the barrel of the gun. Dash (Logan Spaschak) and Anessa (Yasmine Georgia) take on the role of sentient bullets that are able to communicate and guide the gun wielder. This plot choice creates a unique rift in how accountability is framed within the universe of the film. While each gun wielder still has autonomy, it’s up to Dash and Anessa to guide these characters. It’s also implied that they have the ability to prevent a shot from even going off. 

While the concept of white bullets is never really explained nor does it seem to be a publicly known medical option, White Demise relies heavily on suggesting that the audience should trust Sam and her decisions. While the film doesn’t necessarily provide the context needed to immediately justify what seems like a drastic, untrustworthy alternative medicine, MacDougall gives an emotionally compelling performance to suggest desperation. However, the suggestion that the personified bullets are unaware of whether they heal or harm humans comes across as confusing given the lack of context. 

Although White Demise is an impressive feat for a first feature-length film, it, unfortunately, falls into the same pitfalls as many other early film projects. Aside from aesthetic flaws, like how certain visuals and effects in scenes trying to imply important emotional conviction comes across as distracting, there are a number of confusing plot points.  The film attempts to remain neutral regarding the conversation surrounding gun violence, using its characters to explore morality but choosing not to take an explicit side seems to dilute the film’s message. Each character made choices that would be deemed morally good and bad, and once everything ends, the audience is left wondering if they were meant to root for anyone at all. It also doesn’t help that the non-linear storytelling techniques can be difficult to follow at times.

While White Demise doesn’t come across as a horror film, the realities of gun violence are a horrifying reality for millions of peple each year. While there may not be life-saving bullets, the complex power of gun ownership extends far beyond a complicated political stance. Tackling such a loaded topic in such a unique way makes it clear that up-and-coming director, Daeil Kim, is going to be an independent filmmaker to watch.

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