Soulmate was initially refused a rating certificate by the British Board of Film Classification due to its opening scene and Carolyn was required to edit out portions of the scene.[2] The film had its world premiere on 18 October 2013 at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain.[3]
Devastated by the loss of her husband from a car accident, Audrey (Anna Walton) tries to commit suicide but is saved from death by her sister Alex (Emma Cleasby). She decides that the best course of action would be to stay in a cottage in the secluded Welsh countryside, where she will try to overcome her loss and her personal feelings of guilt about her husband's death. On her first day there Audrey meets local Theresa (Tanya Myers) and her husband Dr Zellaby (Nick Brimble), who tell her about the cottage's previous owner, Douglas (Tom Wisdom), that died 30 years prior due to suicide. Soon Audrey begins to hear strange noises and discovers a locked door, which Zellaby states has not been opened since Douglas's death. Eventually the noises become too much for her and Audrey forces the door open to discover that it has many various items belonging to Douglas, including letters from his fiancee Nell (Rebecca Kiser). At this point Douglas begins to manifest himself within the house, revealing himself to Audrey. The two are able to converse with one another but cannot physically interact and they begin to form an emotional bond. However, as time passes the question arises as to whether or not Douglas is a kindred spirit or something more sinister.
Carolyn was inspired to create Soulmate after getting lost in the English countryside, where she discovered "this spooky little village hidden in a hollow, on a dark cloudy day."[4] She also liked the idea of "finding comfort in the supernatural ... because if there are ghosts, there's an afterlife, and the people you've lost are not gone forever."[5] Finding an appropriate filming location caused some difficulties, as she wanted to find a cottage that was "small enough to be cozy and atmospheric, but large enough to accommodate a film crew".[4] As the film's crew was unable to afford tents or trailers for the duration of filming, crew members would have to perform their work in unoccupied rooms of the cottage and relocate as needed for film shots.[4]
Rating
Prior to release, the film was met with resistance from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), who found the opening scene of Audrey attempting suicide by slicing her wrists to be objectionable.[6][7] The BBFC required the removal of 16 seconds of footage to receive an 18 certificate.[2] The proposed removal centered predominantly upon footage of the knife or Audrey's wrists, and ultimately Carolyn chose to remove the scene entirely,[7] as she felt that removing only portions of the scene would result in a "mangled, limp version that would’ve diminished the impact needed and made Audrey’s suicide attempt look painless and easy."[2]
The BBFC's decision was met with some derision by media and Internet bloggers, and multiple people mentioned films that contained objectionable elements such as gory death scenes (Hostel),[8] necrophilia (Nekromantik),[9] or extended rape scenes (Irréversible)[10] without requiring edits.[2][11][12] The opening scene is present in some international versions.[13]
Reception
Nerdly gave Soulmate a favorable review, writing "Traditional ghost stories are few and far between these days, you’re more likely to find a ghost at the end of a camcorder than conversing with the living in most movies and so Soulmate actually feels, despite its traditionalism, fresh and new."[14]Dread Central was mostly positive in their review, giving the film an overall rating of four stars but noted that the ending was too open for interpretation for their liking.[13]HorrorNews.net was also mostly positive, noting that the film would not appeal to all audiences and that "Fans of romantic, period piece fear feasts that challenge you will surely not be disappointed."[15] Anton Bitel of BFI panned Soulmate, writing "The shrill melodrama of the film’s climax seemed out of keeping with both the creeping pace of what had preceded and the subtle ambiguity of the final scene – an ambiguity so underplayed that several FrightFesters with whom I spoke afterwards seemed, like the film’s own sceptic character Dr Zellaby, unconvinced that it was there at all."[16]
Awards
Mary Shelley International Award for Best Director at Fantafestival (2014, won)[15]
International Fantasy Film Award for Best Actress at Fantasporto (2014, won - Anna Walton)[17]
References
^Whittington, James. "Interview With Director Axelle Carolyn". Horror Channel. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ abcdBevan, Nathan. "BANNED: Soulmate is the Welsh movie that became a video nasty by mistake". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^Barton, Steve. "AFM 2013: Axelle Carolyn's Soulmate Headed to Sitges and AFM". Dread Central. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ abc"INTERVIEW: AXELLE CAROLYN (SOULMATE)". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^Turek, Ryan. "Axelle Carolyn's Soulmate to Make U.S. Premiere". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
soulmate, 2013, film, soulmate, 2013, british, mystery, horror, film, directed, axelle, carolyn, feature, film, directorial, debut, film, stars, anna, walton, woman, travels, countryside, recuperate, after, suicide, attempt, finds, that, cottage, haunted, ghos. Soulmate is a 2013 British mystery horror film directed by Axelle Carolyn in her feature film directorial debut 1 The film stars Anna Walton as a woman who travels to the countryside to recuperate after a suicide attempt but finds that her cottage is haunted by a ghost SoulmateFilm posterDirected byAxelle CarolynWritten byAxelle CarolynProduced byClaire OtwayStarringAnna WaltonTom WisdomTanya MyersCinematographySara DeaneEdited bySimon J BrooksEddie OswaldMusic byChristian HensonProductioncompaniesForecast FeaturesScreenProjexSterling Pictures Ltd Distributed byRevolver EntertainmentRelease dates18 October 2013 2013 10 18 Sitges 11 August 2014 2014 08 11 Running time104 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishBudget 600 000Soulmate was initially refused a rating certificate by the British Board of Film Classification due to its opening scene and Carolyn was required to edit out portions of the scene 2 The film had its world premiere on 18 October 2013 at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain 3 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Rating 4 Reception 4 1 Awards 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis EditDevastated by the loss of her husband from a car accident Audrey Anna Walton tries to commit suicide but is saved from death by her sister Alex Emma Cleasby She decides that the best course of action would be to stay in a cottage in the secluded Welsh countryside where she will try to overcome her loss and her personal feelings of guilt about her husband s death On her first day there Audrey meets local Theresa Tanya Myers and her husband Dr Zellaby Nick Brimble who tell her about the cottage s previous owner Douglas Tom Wisdom that died 30 years prior due to suicide Soon Audrey begins to hear strange noises and discovers a locked door which Zellaby states has not been opened since Douglas s death Eventually the noises become too much for her and Audrey forces the door open to discover that it has many various items belonging to Douglas including letters from his fiancee Nell Rebecca Kiser At this point Douglas begins to manifest himself within the house revealing himself to Audrey The two are able to converse with one another but cannot physically interact and they begin to form an emotional bond However as time passes the question arises as to whether or not Douglas is a kindred spirit or something more sinister Cast EditAnna Walton as Audrey Tom Wisdom as Douglas Tanya Myers as Theresa Nick Brimble as Dr Zellaby Emma Cleasby as Alex Guy Armitage as Tristan Rebecca Kiser as Nell Amelia Tyler as Nell voice Felix Coles as Young TheresaProduction EditCarolyn was inspired to create Soulmate after getting lost in the English countryside where she discovered this spooky little village hidden in a hollow on a dark cloudy day 4 She also liked the idea of finding comfort in the supernatural because if there are ghosts there s an afterlife and the people you ve lost are not gone forever 5 Finding an appropriate filming location caused some difficulties as she wanted to find a cottage that was small enough to be cozy and atmospheric but large enough to accommodate a film crew 4 As the film s crew was unable to afford tents or trailers for the duration of filming crew members would have to perform their work in unoccupied rooms of the cottage and relocate as needed for film shots 4 Rating Edit Prior to release the film was met with resistance from the British Board of Film Classification BBFC who found the opening scene of Audrey attempting suicide by slicing her wrists to be objectionable 6 7 The BBFC required the removal of 16 seconds of footage to receive an 18 certificate 2 The proposed removal centered predominantly upon footage of the knife or Audrey s wrists and ultimately Carolyn chose to remove the scene entirely 7 as she felt that removing only portions of the scene would result in a mangled limp version that would ve diminished the impact needed and made Audrey s suicide attempt look painless and easy 2 The BBFC s decision was met with some derision by media and Internet bloggers and multiple people mentioned films that contained objectionable elements such as gory death scenes Hostel 8 necrophilia Nekromantik 9 or extended rape scenes Irreversible 10 without requiring edits 2 11 12 The opening scene is present in some international versions 13 Reception EditNerdly gave Soulmate a favorable review writing Traditional ghost stories are few and far between these days you re more likely to find a ghost at the end of a camcorder than conversing with the living in most movies and so Soulmate actually feels despite its traditionalism fresh and new 14 Dread Central was mostly positive in their review giving the film an overall rating of four stars but noted that the ending was too open for interpretation for their liking 13 HorrorNews net was also mostly positive noting that the film would not appeal to all audiences and that Fans of romantic period piece fear feasts that challenge you will surely not be disappointed 15 Anton Bitel of BFI panned Soulmate writing The shrill melodrama of the film s climax seemed out of keeping with both the creeping pace of what had preceded and the subtle ambiguity of the final scene an ambiguity so underplayed that several FrightFesters with whom I spoke afterwards seemed like the film s own sceptic character Dr Zellaby unconvinced that it was there at all 16 Awards Edit Mary Shelley International Award for Best Director at Fantafestival 2014 won 15 International Fantasy Film Award for Best Actress at Fantasporto 2014 won Anna Walton 17 References Edit Whittington James Interview With Director Axelle Carolyn Horror Channel Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b c d Bevan Nathan BANNED Soulmate is the Welsh movie that became a video nasty by mistake Wales Online Retrieved 13 November 2014 Barton Steve AFM 2013 Axelle Carolyn s Soulmate Headed to Sitges and AFM Dread Central Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b c INTERVIEW AXELLE CAROLYN SOULMATE Rue Morgue Retrieved 13 November 2014 Turek Ryan Axelle Carolyn s Soulmate to Make U S Premiere Shock Till You Drop Retrieved 13 November 2014 Hatfull Jonathan AXELLE CAROLYN S SOULMATE FACING BBFC CUTS SciFiNow Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b SOULMATE BBFC Retrieved 13 November 2014 HOSTEL 2006 BBFC Retrieved 13 November 2014 NEKROMANTIK 1987 BBFC Retrieved 13 November 2014 IRREVERSIBLE 2003 BBFC Retrieved 13 November 2014 Wilson Staci Layne Fast 5 Questions for Axelle Carolyn About Soulmate Dread Central Retrieved 13 November 2014 Marshall Andrew Axelle Carolyn Forced to Cut SOULMATE Starburst Magazine Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b Soulmate review Dread Central Retrieved 13 November 2014 Wheat Phil Frightfest 2013 Soulmate Review Nerdly Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b Gammon Dave Film Review Soulmate HorrorNews net Retrieved 13 November 2014 Bitel Anton Night of the long backward glances the FrightFest October All Nighter 2013 BFI Retrieved 13 November 2014 FANTASPORTO 2014 AWARDS FANTASPORTO 2014 AWARDS Fantasporto Retrieved 13 November 2014 External links EditSoulmate at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soulmate 2013 film amp oldid 1108748264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
