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Title: Binary
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: David-Jan Bronsgeest
Starring: Inaya Zarakhel, Charlie Chan Dagelet,
Runtime: 45 mins

What It Is: A transgender erotic dancer named Nisha (Zarakhel) is preparing for her upcoming gender-affirming surgery. Understandably, she’s feeling more than a little nervous about the procedure. However, when a strange and malevolent entity begins to appear, she realizes that the surgery might be the least of her worries.

What We Think: This film is heavy—very good, but undeniably heavy. It makes a strong and unflinching statement about the terrors a transgender individual can face in their day-to-day life, let alone the anxieties leading up to gender-affirming surgery. It’s both beautiful and honest.

From the horrors of body dysmorphia to the injustices and prejudice faced by trans people, the movie is unrelenting. It’s a neon nightmare that keeps you worrying about Nisha every step of the way. There’s a scene toward the climax of the film that I found exceptionally hard to watch, but that was entirely the point. It depicts a moment of realistic, horrifying violence—not involving the entity—and it’s deeply uncomfortable.

That scene, however, felt 1000% necessary. It captures the kind of real-life horror that a transgender exotic dancer could potentially face. Horror is most effective when it comes from an honest place, and this film, if anything, is frighteningly honest. It’s a genuinely worthwhile watch. This one had me on the edge of my seat and left me shaken. If that doesn’t make for an effective horror movie, I don’t know what does.

The film was beautifully shot, with dynamic and striking use of color. I was thoroughly impressed by how visually compelling the story was, especially given its minimal use of effects. I’d easily watch it again for the visuals alone. I truly enjoyed this watch.

Our Grade: A, Well executed and meaningful. This film packed a punch. I still feel its effects.

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