Pollen (2023) Review – A Ham-Fisted Metaphorical Monster Movie
Pollen: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A well-intentioned but ultimately derivative entry into the “metaphorical monster” sub-genre that struggles to find its own voice. Pollen succeeds when functioning as a grounded human drama, aided by a committed and nervous lead performance from Ava Rose Kinard. However, D.W. Medoff’s attempt to weave Greek mythology and supernatural horror into a story about workplace misogyny and sexual assault feels clumsy and lacking in nuance. While the message is vital and timely, the execution relies too heavily on tropes established by far superior films like The Babadook and Relic. It is a 2.5 star effort that offers a few effective scares and decent creature design, but it is hampered by a ridiculous final act and a script that lacks a genuine female perspective. It is watchable for genre completionists, but for those tired of “on the nose” allegories, there is very little here that hasn’t been done better elsewhere.
Details: Director: D.W. Medoff | Cast: Ava Rose Kinard, Tyler Kay Whitley, Sajon Rivera | Runtime: 1h 27m | Release Date: 6 June 2023
Best for: Viewers who enjoy “elevated” horror metaphors and those looking for a supernatural take on workplace politics.
Worth noting: The film draws heavily on the Greek myth of Hera, specifically her connection to jealousy and the peacock, though the connection to the “tree monster” remains somewhat tenuous.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
(Strong lead acting, important social message, but formulaic and lacks nuance.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are going to be reviewing D.W. Medoff’s monster horror movie Pollen from 2023.
Table of Contents
Psychological horror meets Greek mythology
After being assaulted by a co-worker, young, ambitious woman Hera (Ava Rose Kinard) chokes down the reality of what happened and, instead, throws herself into her work. The more she suppresses the truth, the more she is haunted by a horrifying figure in the shape of a tree.
“The vast majority of these films take a real-world situation that haunts a character and turns it into a physical monster. Pollen is no different.”
While attempting to navigate the complex landscape of her new workplace, Hera is exposed to bullying, harassment and the realities of being a young woman in a world dominated by men. Leading her deeper and deeper into a pit of despair that will force her to confront the demons that stalk her.
Metaphorical monsters are all the rage in horror. Whereas it is probably fair to say that the trend has died off a little as of late, you still see one or two of these movies popping up each year. The vast majority take a real-world situation that haunts a character and turns it into a seemingly real and physical monster. Pollen is no different. Whereas the movie’s important message about misogyny, the toxicity of male-dominated society and the culture of covering each other’s backs is very relevant, the ham-fisted attempt at delivering this message in a manner which will please horror fans feels a bit weak.
There is very little new here and Pollen left me with a distinct feeling of a director keen to pay homage to his favourite movies. Change the subject, move a few things around, put together a slightly more dramatic ending. It’s still the same old metaphorical monster movie whichever way you slice it. Medoff, despite being a clearly competent film maker, offers little in the way of original ideas to this tried and tested formula.
An important message
There is an important message at the core of Pollen. One that is, likely, all too familiar to women in the workplace. A message about rampant sexual assault. Power being used as a bargaining chip. Lack of male accountability in the workforce. A culture of silencing women who speak up. As well as the toxicity between female workers pitted against each other by a patriarchal society. It’s as relevant a message now as it has ever been. The presentation of men covering up the crimes of other men is something that absolutely should be talked about.
Medoff’s writing, however, feels lacking. Some of the ways in which he presents the events that take place can only be described as clumsy. Speaking to my fiancée, she strongly felt that the issues here were presented in a way that lacked female experience. Medoff needed to offer a female voice on this subject. Not the voice of a man attempting to relate to a woman’s experience.
All too familiar
It would be remiss of me to not mention The Babadook when talking about Pollen. Natalie Erika James’ Relic also comes to mind almost immediately when watching Pollen, as does the far superior Saint Maud. From a horror perspective, Pollen plays out in a way that can only be described as a little bit yawn inducing.
“Much like Relic, Pollen lacks in nuance. It is all so obvious and on the nose; one of those movies that constantly makes you think ‘Yeah, we get it!’.”
We have reviewed a whole bevy of horror movies that feature allegorical monsters. Each designed to represent the everyday trauma of real life. It is just getting a little bit old and worn out. The more of these movies I watch the more obvious it is that the well has run dry. There are no more new ideas and these movies are all just copying each other now.
Much like the aforementioned Relic, Pollen lacks in nuance of presentation. It’s all so obvious and on the nose. It is one of those movies that constantly makes you think “Yeah, we get it!”. There is not enough depth to the writing and the metaphors can feel both clumsy and a bit too apparent. It never really prompts genuine moments of thought. But it does prompt a few eye rolls for anyone tired of this type of stuff.
I think Pollen‘s ending is ridiculous, as well. It feels like it hits a natural point of conclusion only for things to suddenly become extra silly. Perhaps due to Medoff feeling like he needed a legitimately horror style ending. Writers are sticking metaphorical monsters in drama movies purely because they know their movies would fail as plain drama.
Not a bad movie
Despite my complaints, Pollen is a pretty watchable movie. Ava Rose Kinard delivers an occasionally mixed performance but when she is good she is very good. I loved her nervous delivery and she absolutely demands that you care about her character. If some of the writing was a little better, she would be a truly memorable horror movie protagonist. It’s hard to wonder how someone like her ended up in the industry she is in, though.
The story is fairly interesting from a human drama perspective. I genuinely enjoyed watching Hera’s attempts to navigate her toxic workplace and there are some legitimately hilarious moments. I can’t help but feel as though Medoff was somewhat influenced by Lucky McKee’s May. Pollen hits on its humour in a very similar manner. The important message at the core of the movie definitely deserves mention, of course.
“Pollen is not as smart as it thinks it is. When combined with an awful ending and silly dialogue, it is a bit of an awkward recommend.”
Some of the horror moments are fairly effective. The tree monster looks decent for what is little more than a rubber suit. Medoff tries to go for a few Babadook-esque moments of terror here and there that do occasionally pay off. The side story with Hera’s niece was an interesting one. It hints at how widespread of an issue the subject matter at hand really is. And the film, generally, looks pretty nice. Being nicely shot for the most part and having a few scenes that look particularly fantastic. Medoff has potential as a director.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Ava Rose Kinard: Her performance is the highlight of the film, bringing a believable sense of trauma and anxiety to the role of Hera.
- Visual Direction: For a low-budget feature, the film is often nicely shot, with some creative lighting that helps build a claustrophobic atmosphere.
- The Message: The core exploration of workplace misogyny and the “boys club” mentality is incredibly relevant and worth discussing.
The Bad
- Lack of Nuance: The metaphors are incredibly heavy-handed and obvious, leaving no room for the viewer to interpret the events for themselves.
- Derivative Pacing: The film follows the “elevated horror” playbook so closely that it feels like a collection of homages rather than an original story.
- The Ending: The final sequence abandons the film’s grounded drama for a generic and somewhat silly horror conclusion that undermines the message.
The Ugly: The “Workplace” Toxicity. The most unsettling parts of the film aren’t the monster, but the all-too-real depictions of male entitlement and the silencing of female voices in professional spaces.
Should You Watch Pollen?
If you are a fan of “Babadook-style” horror and don’t mind a story that spells out its meaning in capital letters, then yes. It is a 2.5 star film that is technically competent and well-acted. However, if you are seeking a horror movie with genuine depth, subtlety, or an original approach to trauma, Pollen will likely leave you feeling like you’ve seen it all before. It is an important message delivered through a very tired lens.
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