Directed by: Phillip G. Carroll, Jr
Notable cast: François Chau, Tara Westwood, Chloe Carroll,
Jim Schubin
Why is it we are so happy early in a relationship, and why
doesn’t feeling last? That’s the question that starts The Honeymoon Phase,
and although it doesn’t necessarily persist through the film thematically, it
does stand as an interesting launching point for a slow burn sci-fi thriller. There
is a persistent, uneasy feeling throughout the movie making it clear there is
more beneath the surface, though the film is mostly careful and glacial with
revelations, the threatening aura feels laid bare early.
Tom and Eve (Jim Schubin and Chloe Carroll) are a young
couple going through some financial difficulties, especially since Tom is a
writer with a years-long case of writer’s block. Eve discovers a study offering
fifty thousand dollars to newlyweds to stay in a home together for thirty days.
Seeming simple enough, they decide to pretend to be married for the money. Everything
seems to be going along well early, save a bit of uncharacteristic aggressive
passion from Tom, until one-night Eve sees Julie, another test subject she met
earlier, frantically pounding at her door begging to be rescued from her
husband. The door won’t open and Eve is forced to watch as Julie’s husband
attacks her and drags away the body. Even worse, no one believes that it
happened. Even the security footage betrays Eve as she begins to think that
maybe she’s under threat as well.