Hellbender is the newest film from the Adams Family, consisting of Mom (Toby Poser), Dad (John Adams), and their two daughters (Lulu and Zelda). This clan of filmmakers has made quite a name for themselves the past few years and their company Wonder Wheel Productions. The Deeper You Dig, their previous opus, also played Fantasia and went on to be released Internationally by Arrow Video (The criterion of boutique labels). But that is too much about the past. I am here to tell you about the glorious present, both literally and literally speaking, as the film just played Fantasia today and… you get it. It’s amazing.
Hellbender is a wild coming-of-age story about Izzy (Zelda Adams), a young witch being raised in isolation by her reformed witch Mother (Toby Poser). Why Izzy is being raised this way will be addressed later in the film, but let’s say Mother has good reason (she does know best). It may have something to do with Mom’s past, some 150 years ago, when she pissed off the entire village, and ended hung up six feet in the air, while a pistol was unloaded on her. Luckily, witches don’t die easy and can fly like a bat out of hell if needed. Side note: the opening scene of Hellbender is the single, most joyous thing to happen to North America this year. Not for violent reasons, be clear. For the shear unbridled imagination on display.
So Izzy is lonely. Sure, she and her mom have an awesome band H6LLB6ND6R, and they play most triumphant displays of Goth angst (it’s witch family time after all). But eventually Izzy wants to play for audience. Or Hell, make a friend?! Except, Izzy can’t. She has a health condition of which puts her in danger around others. One day, when Izzy’s wandering around alone on their massive acreage, a lost stranger (John Adams) asks her for help. Izzy is nervous, but charmed by the man. Mother senses the disturbance immediately (Mom’s always know when somethings wrong) and appears in the blink of an eye (see opening scene). Mother helps (deals with) the stranger, and Izzy is sent home. Except the bug has bit Izzy. There are people out there, and she feels fine? Maybe Mother has been lying about her illness?
Izzy ventures out again, further than ever. Just off their property line, in their neighbor’s back yard, a teenager close to Izzy’s age is hanging out back by the pool. Her name is Amber (Lulu Adams), and the duo hit it off. Back home, Mother feels concern over the previous evening. Mother approaches their home’s only locked room, places her hand on a sigil carved on the door, and a key appears out a slit from the back of Mother’s hand. Inside the room, an ancient book, and by placing her hand upon the book, Mother has a vison of the future. In the vision, she is called liar by Izzy, and her daughter is scared, and taken away. Back at the pool, the kid’s plan to hang out again. Izzy returns home. And again, nothing is wrong. She asks her mom if H6LLB6ND6ER could ever play for a crowd. Mother thinks it’s best if it’s just between them.
The next day, Izzy meets up with Amber, who has brought some friends, Ingrid and AJ along. The teens hang out, and Izzy feels something that has eluded her… normalcy. The teens have brought Tequila, and knowing this is Iz’s first time, she is summoned to eat the worm. AJ places a real worm in the cup. Amber says it’s not that bad. Izzy has been raised Vegan, this is something her Mom would definitely not approve of. Izzy does it anyway. The worm goes in… and something is wrong. Psychedelic ecstasy ensues, and the other kid’s are concerned about Izzy’s strange reaction. However, they more concerned when the homeowner crashes that party. The kids flee. Amber and Izzy head for the woods. Amber gathers herself after the panic, except Izzy isn’t right. Izzy is still feeling the strange effects of the live worm, and places her hand on Amber’s throat. Frightened, Amber tells Izzy, “F*ck off” and flees.
There is something wrong with Izzy, the teenager. Or is there something right with Izzy, the witch? Maybe the answers are in that book Mother keeps locked up?
The resulting film is a raucous, sad, and moving portrait. A Mother, who doesn’t want her daughter to fall into the fails of her youth (it was quite violent and chaotic). And Izzy, who can’t believe her Mother would hide such power from her? But what gives her such power? And what does it mean to her new friends? I think you can see the subtext here, probably multiple. The ending film has some interesting things to say about the subject. Things I was genuinely not expecting. Because honesty is few and far between in Hollywood filmmaking. But this isn’t Hollywood filmmaking. This is the Adams family, and they don’t mince words.
Hellbender is a wild, witchy tale that takes no prisoners… well, maybe a few. One of the year’s best.
Hellbender was screened digitally via Yellow Veil Pictures at the 2021 Fantasia Film Festival
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