''Moon Garden'' is a 2022 American

dark fantasy Dark fantasy, also called fantasy horror, is a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporates disturbing and frightening themes. The term is ambiguously used to describe stories that combine horror fiction, horror ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

written and directed by Ryan Stevens Harris, and starring Haven Lee Harris, Augie Duke, Brionne Davis,

Maria Olsen Maria Olsen (born July 22, 1966) is a South African film producer and actress known for her many roles in horror films. These include '' Paranormal Activity 3'', '' The Lords of Salem'', '' Gore Orphanage,'' and ''Starry Eyes''. Non-horror rol ...

, Timothy Lee DePriest, Philip E. Walker, and

Morgana Ignis Morgana Gwendolyn Ignis (born May 19, 1989) is an American actress and writer. She starred as Claire Atlas in the webseries ''Class Acts'', as Fay in ''Dracula's Ex-Girlfriend'', and voices Sallie May on the animated series ''Helluva Boss''. Ea ...

. The film follows a young girl named Emma (Haven Lee Harris) who slips into a coma and finds herself in a surreal, industrial dream world where she is haunted by a monster who feeds off her tears. ''Moon Garden'' premiered at the 25th

Dances With Films Festival Dances With Films (DWF) is an annual independent film festival located in Los Angeles, California and New York. It was founded by Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent. Lineup Taking place every year since 1998, the festival is dedicated to representi ...

on June 10, 2022. The film was given a limited theatrical release in the United States by

Oscilloscope Laboratories Oscilloscope Laboratories is an independent film company, distributor, recording studio and production facility. It was founded by Adam Yauch Adam Nathaniel Yauch ( ; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), also known by the stage name MCA, was an Am ...

in May 2023.

Plot

Little Emma falls down the stairs after she sees her parents arguing. She then begins oscillating between a steampunk world where she is pursued by a terrifying creature, and the physical world where she is in a coma. She hears her mother speaking and singing to her in memories and crossover moments. She is gifted a transistor radio to help her find her way back.She can also use it to hear her parents speaking to her by her hospital bed.

Cast

* Haven Lee Harris as Emma * Augie Duke as Sara * Brionne Davis as Alex *

as Princess * Timothy Lee DePriest as Groom * Philip E. Walker as Musician *

as Teeth

Release

''Moon Garden'' had its world premiere at the 25th

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, California, on June 10, 2022. On October 8, 2022, the film screened at the Grimmfest Film Festival in the United Kingdom. On November 3, 2022, it screened at the 9th FilmQuest Film Festival in

Provo, Utah Provo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Utah County, Utah, United States. It is south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front, and lies between the cities of Orem, Utah, Orem to the north and Springville, Utah, Springville to the south ...

. In April 2023, it screened at Panic Fest in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

. ''Moon Garden'' was released in select cinemas in the United States by

in May 2023.

Reception

Sharai Bohannon of ''

Dread Central Dread Central is an American website founded in 2006 that is dedicated to horror news, interviews, and reviews. It covers horror films, comics, novels, and toys. Dread Central has won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Website f ...

'' praised the film's setting and the Teeth character, and wrote, "''Moon Garden''s world, and the imagery it provides, are what will keep audiences talking. It's so absorbing that it makes it hard to dwell on things that aren't working in the film."

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=18561446 2022 fantasy films 2020s American animated films 2022 horror films 2022 films American animated fantasy films American dark fantasy films