INDIE MOVIE REVIEW: Motivational Growth ( 2013)

 

Ian Folivor, a depressed and reclusive 30-something, finds himself taking advice from a growth in his bathroom after a failed suicide attempt. The Mold, a smooth talking fungus who was born of the filth collecting in a corner of Ian's neglected bathroom, works to win Ian's trust by helping him clean himself up and remodel his lifestyle. With The Mold's help, Ian attracts the attention of a neighbor he's been ogling through his peephole, Leah, and he manages to find a slice of happiness despite his unnatural circumstances. But Ian starts to receive strange messages from his old and broken down TV set that make him realize that The Mold may not be as helpful as it seems to be, and strange characters combined with stranger events cast Ian's life in the shadow of an epic battle between good and evil that Ian is only partially aware of.

AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON Amazon / Apple TV / Tubi / and Google Play

REVIEW

 

When low, down, and out, Ian decides to end it all after the death of his T.V. Kent; his attempt ends in debauchery, waking up to find the corner of mold (Voiced by the infamous Jeffery Combs) growing in his bathroom talking to him. The Molds got plans, Jack…yes The Molds got plans…to motivate Ian's life back into shape, that is! Hey, when life deals you lemons, why not take advice from a smooth-talking fungus which grows a mushroom out of it and asks you to eat it. 

 

Winner of the 2013 Atlanta Horror Film Festival for Best Feature and Best Feature winner at the 2013 Boston Science Fiction Film Festival Motivational Growth is absolute brilliance taking you on a dark fungal acid trip. Plus, giving the term, "I've got a mold problem." A whole new meaning.

Written and directed by Don Thacker, Thacker delivers Indie film at its finest. Motivational Growth is just pure enjoyment to watch. Sure Thacker leaves us with many questions, but The Mold smoothed it all over. Enjoy the showman, enjoy the show. Speaking of The Mold (voiced by the illustrious Jeffery Combs), he does not steal the film; Adrian DiGiovanni (Ian Folivor), our protagonist, our narrator does. Our narrator has to captivate, and Adrian's Ian does. He draws you in before he even speaks with his blank disheveled appearance. When he does speak you are wholly invested in Ian Folivor and his journey. This is all thanks to the amazing camera work the camera team does. Every shot, scene, and twist, that journeys us into Ian's mind-mucking fun that becomes Ian's horror mold-infested world.

Speaking of The Mold, whom I oddly found cute and charming. I would definitely buy The Mold plushie puppet if one were made. It is done by Puppeteer Midan Crosby and animatronic designer Andy Hosmer and, of course, the rest of the special effect and puppeteer crew, who I thought did a fantastic job creating The Mold and bringing it ready for its screen time. He is reminiscent of special-effects creature features of the '80s, and it fits very much in with the 80's vibe Motivational Growth gives off. Being a child of the 80s, this only made me love Motivational Growth more. It is now available to buy on Blue-Ray and DVD  Motivational Growth is sure to be a cult classic fave.

 

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Visit Motivational Growth @ https://www.motivationalgrowth.com/