LATE NIGHT DRIVE-IN PRESENTS “SPOONFUL OF SUGAR”(2023)

Spoonful of Sugar (2023)

Rating: NR by MPAA Streaming On: Shudder Production Company: Vanishing Angle Running Time: 94 Minutes Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan Starring: Morgan Saylor, Kat Foster, Myko Olivier, Danillo Crovetti

Synopsis

Millicent is a college student who is writing a thesis on children with allergies, and takes on a nanny position to a young boy who is allergic to everything under the sun. Family secrets and troubles are revealed to disastrous consequence.

Millicent (Morgan Saylor) experiences bizarre hallucinations while abusing her prescription LSD treating her anxiety

The Good

Writer Leah Saint Marie and director Mercedes Bryce Morgan have combined for quite a surprisingly effective little horror set piece, and they get a brilliant performance from Morgan Saylor in her role as a troubled college student who experiences a sexual awakening while under the influence of LSD prescribed by her doctor. Millicent is on a psychedelic journey of self-discovery and when she is hired by an overbearing author mother (Kat Foster) and her unhappy husband (Myko Olivier), lines are crossed and a bond between her and the equally troubled boy she nannies creates a jealousy in Kat Foster’s Rebecca that will eventually lead to a violent and not totally expected finish.

Johnny (Danillo Crovetti may or may not be battling severe life-threatening allergies, but that is far from the only thing that is wrong with him.

The Bad

The ending, although a bit of a surprise, inspired a certain level of disbelief that so much story pre-dating the events of the film would never have happened because some authority would have surely interceded before this stage. The movie itself is economical in its set pieces, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but the few moments of special effects that were on display recreating the trippy LSD hallucinations were poorly done.

Family birthdays can get a little crazy sometimes

The Bottom Line

The movie is not so scary as it is disturbing, on some level, due to some very real mental illness traits and psychological trauma on display by several of the main cast. The gore is not excessive, and the most squeamish moment involves the skinning of a rabbit leg until the grand finale. In an ocean of formulaic horror, this micro budget film offers good performances and a bit of a twist ending that was appreciated.

Author | “R.J. MacReady”

Wednesday, Mar 22 2023 10:46PM