Sinphony (2022) DVD Review

It is both long and short, it is very distinct, yet harmonious.  We know it all too well, the Horror anthology.  After Creepshow, V/H/S, XX, or more recently Scare Package II and Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities, this has been a long standing tradition.

It is easy to understand the appeal, watching many unique short Horror stories in one sitting can be fun, it is also smart on the business side, or at least in theory.

Sinphony is a new feature length horror anthology with an interesting origin.  The project started because a group of filmmakers were talking on an audio chat app called Clubhouse.  Talking late into the night, they decided to collaborate on a Horror anthology, Sinphony was the result.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I, Curt Wiser know many of the filmmakers involved with Sinphony and first met them through the Clubhouse app.

On a fun side note, the Clubhouse app is featured in one of the segments entitled Mother Love, which is well executed.  For this review I decided not to focus on the individual segments but review the movie as a whole.  Since that is the aim here, this is a collection of stories that are designed to be presented together.

Here is the logline for the anthology. Sinphony explores various aspects of the human condition as each character traverses through tragedies caused by a supernatural entity.

The following are the descriptions of the individual segments in order of appearance. Since the Executive Producers, Sebastien Bazile and Michael Galvan have said the wrap around segment was never meant to overshadow the others, I list that one last.

Mother Love (Writer/Director: Jason Ragosta) A witch must summon the power of her coven to defend her child against a crazed killer.

Ear Worm (Writer/Director: Steven Keller) A young contractor hired to remove mold from a house inhales strange spores, causing hallucinations and murder.

Forever Young (Writer/Director: Haley Bishop) In a desperate attempt to preserve her youth, a 30-year-old woman engages in a social media dance craze that may have dire consequences.

The Keeper (Writer: Greg Greene, Director: Wes Driver) A small town innkeeper’s growing concern over domestic abuse between his new guests takes a horrific turn as he stumbles upon their monstrous secret.

Limited Edition (Writer/Director: Mark A. Pritchard) Intent on capturing an original moment in time, a woman faces a deadly battle when the moment fights back.

Do Us Part (Writer/Director: Kimberley Elizabeth) A recently separated couple comes to terms with the fact that one of them is a ghost.

Tabitha (Writer/Director: Jason Wilkinson) After a botched robbery, a young woman bleeds out in her car while being terrorized by a ghostly figure.

Maternally Damned (Writer/Director: Nichole Carlson) The anxiety of a woman’s unplanned pregnancy intensifies as her body goes through a series of unexplained changes.

Symphony Of Horror (Writer: Sebastien Bazile, Directors: Michael Galvan, Sebastien Bazile) A parasitic brain infection caused by a cursed song when heard, sends ordinary people into a killing frenzy.

Overall, Sinphony works well, it delivers many thrills and chills with unique, contrasting tones and styles.  It’s a genre frenzied mash up.  These variations are part of what makes anthologies so entertaining, yet these segments must also work together in concert, it’s a fragile balance.

Anthologies tie their individual stories together in some way, in theme, genre or in the narrative.  I will not spoil the details but Sinphony does connect these stories through a narrative thread.

This is loosely done through the wrap around segment, Synphony Of Horror and in other subtle ways.  I do feel this connection between the stories could have been stronger however, more layered.

Sinphony showcases bold, creative voices, the styles and sensibilities of the different filmmakers.  In those terms, some segments are stand outs, such as the Horror-Comedy Forever Young and Limited Edition.  Historic United Kingdom locations and a one of a kind electric 1957 Morgan automobile fill the frame in Limited Edition.

This project features many different shooting locations, such as Canada, the UK and The United Stated.  I applaud this global feel which adds to this eclectic horror experience.

Our scale can change between these segments as well.  Tabitha, for example, feels like a horror version of the Tom Hardy vehicle Locke.  This segment, Tabitha holds your interest even though it mostly centers around one on-screen character in a parked car.  By contrast, Limited Edition lets us take a ride around the lush, UK countryside and landscapes.

For me, some of these segments were top quality in every way, while others were lackluster.  This could come down to personal taste, maybe this is the nature of any anthology project.  Your favorite segment might be different from mine, which is fine.

Now to review the DVD, which is pictured above.  The Sinphony DVD cover features fantastic artwork crafted by one of the filmmakers, Jason Ragosta.  Highlighting each segment, this art is a fond throwback to 80’s horror movies.  Honestly, this alone should be enough reason for horror fans and physical media collectors to own a DVD.

Among the bonus features on the DVD you will find a poster gallery, since one was created for each segment as well.  Another bonus was an additional segment, Rose Motel which was written and directed by Baraka Noel.  This additional segment was great to see, I am glad they included it on the DVD.

The sound and picture quality are good.  The chapter listings let you go to any individual segment, which is handy for subsequent viewing.

I’m a firm believer in taking the subjective approach by saying, feel free to watch this and form your own opinion.  This especially makes sense for an anthology project.

Sinphony is currently available on DVD, Tubi and to rent or buy on most major streaming platforms.