“The Activated Man”

By MARY CUSACK

Calling a film a “slow burn” is often a compliment. In the case of “The Activated Man,” not so much. The plot is slow, and the plot holes burn through one’s credulity. Still, all is not lost due to some true horror film star power.

The movie opens with Ors Gabriel (Jamie Costa) having a nightmare about the death of his dog, Louie. Somehow, this loss opens Gabriel’s third eye, activating his psychic powers. He begins to see a nefarious figure, the Fedora Man (Scott Brown). With the help of his self-proclaimed “weird” neighbor Jeffrey Bowman (Tony Todd), Gabriel realizes there’s a connection between the Fedora Man and a series of murder-suicides in the area. Bowman mentors Gabriel to prepare him for the inevitable battle between dark and light.

The story was inspired by the loss of writer and director Nicholas Gyeney’s beloved dog, Louis. It’s important to understand that influence because the plot relies heavily on the impact of Gabriel’s dog's death. The movie is clearly a labor of love and healing for Gyeney, but the dog aspect becomes overplayed, adding to an already muddy plot.

Despite its shortcomings, the film has its merits as well. The Fedora Man is genuinely ghoulish, and the editing of his manifestations increases the creep factor. Kane Hodder, as Gabriel’s father, Laszlo, gives a strong performance. The amount of menace he pours into the single word “son” is chilling.

Best of all, though, is the performance by Todd, a horror legend famous for his roles in the “Candyman” and “Final Destination” movies. Just hearing his sonorous voice and watching his imposing figure on the screen makes the film worthwhile.