Fantastic Fest Review: The Wind

When European settlers made their way from the bustling cities to the windy Great Plains, they didn’t quite know what waited for them out in the wide open grasslands.

In Emma Tammi’s narrative directorial debut The Wind, she strives to piece together an account of two women, Lizzy (Caitlin Gerard) and Emma (Julia Goldani Telles), trying to survive the unfamiliar harsh environment where ancient demons lurk in the shadows, waiting to sink their teeth into their fragile psyches.

But it’s not as steeped in folklore as the movie leads on: Instead, most of the film trails Lizzy’s descent into madness. The film time jumps inconsistently, from when Lizzy was once pregnant herself to her growing antagonistic relationship with her new neighbor, Emma. The inconsistency of tone is what keeps The Wind from reaching its full potential – Tammi doesn’t know whether or not she wants to direct a psychological thriller or a horror movie, and there are a few jump scares that feel entirely out of place.

Gerard strives to be the glue that holds The Wind together. In the scenes where she is by herself, she gives it her all and knows when to ramp up the crazy as well as tone it down so her character remains sympathetic. At her best, she confidently strides around with her gun at the ready, but at her worst, she babbles in German, eyes glazed over staring out at nothing in particular. While it remains obvious (and sometimes tedious) what road Tammi and writer Teresa Sutherland are traveling down with The Wind, Gerard remains a strong, harrowing presence.

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The Wind

U.S. premiere
Tue., Sept. 25, 5pm

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Fantastic Fest runs Sept. 20-27. For more news, reviews, and interviews, as well as our daily show with the oneofus.net podcast network, visit austinchronicle.com/fantastic-fest.