From the director of The House of the Devil, X, Pearl, MaXXXine, Apple Immersive’s first horror film, Remnants, is available in the Apple TV app starting at 6pm PT today.
The approximately 24-minute experience (27 minutes, including credits) invites you into the story that takes place in 19th-century London, to both witness and feel what it is like to be haunted.
Remnants is a beautifully shot live-action ghost story. The limits of what you can see in its 180-degree immersive video and use of some traditional film techniques actually make the experience feel more unnerving.
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You Do Not Feel Safe, Even As a Witness to What Unfolds
The Remnants experience does not give you a role in the story. You are invited back in time to witness what takes place. With no character to embody, West presents a wide range of views for you to take in, from extreme close-up moments with the characters, to bird’s-eye views of inside and outside the castle. The range of shot choices feels similar to a traditional film.
During the slower introductory scene ahead of the visit to the haunted castle, the angles and quick cuts between the dialogue place more emphasis on the filmmaker than the ability to feel present with the characters and the story. But as the eerie experience unfolds, the selected perspectives start to feel intentionally unsettling. You are not able to choose where you appear or what you hear or are faced with within the 180-degree views. You are trapped in a slightly different way than the main character, Eleanor. The direction is a clever method to reduce the sense of control that you have in an experience that is already not interactive.
You Are Almost Like a Ghost
Throughout the experience at the castle, the fear, intriguing visuals, spatial sound and score make you feel present. The characters do not engage with you though, and you do not see your shadow or reflection. At moments, especially during some of the smooth longer shots I felt like I was floating and could have been a ghost. But this was not consistent throughout and does not seem like West’s intent. Even without a role, and frequent cuts to a range of perspectives, the way that you experience the story still makes it seem as if you are there with Eleanor and there is reason to be afraid.
A Haunting Story, Not Just A Series Of Scares
At approximately 24 minutes, Remnants is among the short list of longer Apple Immersive videos currently available. This gives enough time for the narrative to unfold which is helpful in building the eerie feeling of being in it. You are given the luxury of being able to take in the details of the environments in the story, which adds to the experience. This is not just a haunted castle visit with a series of jump cuts.
Did I scream at possibly more than one surprise? Absolutely. There were also a few moments I had a hand on my headset, ready to exit to reality if needed.
