‘Psyche’ is a captivating experimental, psychological thriller from South African filmmaker Jonathan Geach. Trapped in a stark, colourless room that reeks of fear, loneliness and doubt, a young woman is subjected to a terrifying ordeal as a series of mystifying and ominous letters appear under her door.
The title ‘Psyche’ gives us a clue as to where Jonathan’s short film might be set, but we are never entirely sure as there are no obvious indicators. The notes under her door are initially the only other sign of life outside. They repeat the same deadly threat: “When this door opens you will die”. It is clear she is there under duress, but from whom or why is never clear. Our captive bangs on the door to be let out, unable to open it – until suddenly she can. Will her desperation finally push her to open the door, come what may?
‘Psyche’ sets your teeth on edge throughout with particular attention paid to light and sound. Your eyes open to a soft red glow which quickly morphs into an all-too-recognisable harsh fluorescent light which offers no corners to hide in for either our patient or the audience. As the film progresses, red, white and green lights permeate the room. What is Jonathan saying with these colours? A perpetual and infuriating buzz is present throughout the film, which alongside screeching and cacophonous interludes, could easily drive a sane person mad. A quickening heartbeat, assumedly that of our patient, pounds into your ears and heightens the panic, confusion and general malaise of the film.
Our young captive, played by Rebecca Horne, has a wild look in her eyes throughout, crazed by confinement and the growing danger she is in. There is nothing for her within this room. What if the notes are correct and leaving leads to her death? Would that be worse than her current predicament? Finally the door opens and we see and hear the blissful safety of the open countryside… But is that real or imagined? The final moments do not necessarily provide answers to your questions, and nor should they within an experimental format, although the audience is reminded of the opening initial hypothesis: “The human mind constructs a reality based on the information it has access to.”
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