The Dead Center is the latest from writer/director Billy Senese, starring Shane Carruth (Primer) and Jeremy Childs. Artfully navigating the cliches and sensitivities of films surrounding mental health facilities, Senese’s story creates realistic characters that unravel a twisted tale of mortality. Carruth’s performance as an empathetic psychiatrist is full of charisma & raw honesty, which counteracts Childs’ terrifying intensity within his transformation as a toe-tagged John Doe. Some effects appear more as nods to other films (see: The Ring) than as original offerings to the genre, but the emotional depth adds another level to the effectiveness of the plot.
The Dead Center screened as part of Telluride Horror Show 2018.