Watch True Fiction

True Fiction is a 2019 thriller film directed by Braden Croft and starring Sara Garcia, John Cassini, and Julian Black Antelope. The movie tells the story of a writer named Avery Malone (Sara Garcia), who is struggling with writer’s block following the success of her first novel. To combat her creative slump, Avery decides to take a job as a live-in assistant to her favourite author, Caleb Conrad (John Cassini), who is struggling with his own writer’s block.

The job appears to be too good to be true from the outset, as Avery is given free reign of the sprawling house and allowed to observe Caleb’s writing process up close. However, things quickly take a dark turn when Caleb reveals that he has been secretly conducting experiments on his assistants to gather inspiration for his writing. Avery soon finds herself a captive in the house, fighting for her life against her crazed employer.

The tension is palpable throughout the film, as Avery battles to escape her captor’s clutches and piece together the true motivations behind his twisted behaviour. Stranded in a remote location with no allies and only her wits to rely on, Avery is forced to confront the darkness within herself to survive.

What sets True Fiction apart from the usual thriller fare is its clever subversion of typical genre tropes. The film initially appears to follow a familiar pattern of a young, female protagonist being terrorized by a creepy male villain. However, as the plot progresses, it becomes clear that Avery is far from helpless, capable of matching wits and holding her own against Caleb’s attacks.

Sara Garcia gives a standout performance as Avery, imbuing the character with a vulnerability that makes her ultimate triumph all the more satisfying. At times, the film flirts with cliches (such as the obligatory forced shower scene), but overall it manages to avoid falling into the usual traps of genre filmmaking.

John Cassini also shines in the role of Caleb, bringing a creepy intensity to the character that constantly keeps the audience on edge. The two leads play off each other well, creating a palpable sense of tension that never lets up throughout the film’s runtime.

Despite its low budget, True Fiction manages to deliver a suspenseful and satisfying thriller that will keep audiences guessing until the very end. Braden Croft’s direction is sleek and effective, elevating the material beyond its B-movie roots.

The film also boasts impressive cinematography, making full use of the isolated location to create a sense of claustrophobia and tension. The ominous score by Spencer Creaghan further enhances the film’s unsettling atmosphere, providing a sense of dread that never fully dissipates.

One of the film’s major themes is the blurring of the line between reality and fiction. As Caleb describes his process for writing, it becomes clear that he is drawing inspiration from his own life experiences, blurring the line between his fiction and reality in a dangerous way. This theme is explored through Avery’s own struggles to separate reality from the elaborate fantasy world that Caleb has created for her.

Overall, True Fiction is a solid thriller that delivers on all its promises. The film’s strong performances, tense direction, and impressive visuals make it stand out from the countless other B-movie thrillers on the market. While it doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, it’s a satisfyingly tense and entertaining ride that genre fans are sure to appreciate.

True Fiction is a 2020 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.