Moon Garden (film)

Moon Garden
Promotional release poster
Directed byRyan Stevens Harris
Written byRyan Stevens Harris
Produced byJohn Michael Elfers
Starring
Music byMichael Deragon
Production
company
Fire Trial Films
Distributed byOscilloscope Laboratories[1]
Release dates
  • June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10) (DWF)
  • 2023 (2023) (United States)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$48,758[2][3]

Moon Garden is a 2022 American dark fantasy horror film written and directed by Ryan Stevens Harris, and starring Haven Lee Harris, Augie Duke, Brionne Davis, Maria Olsen, Timothy Lee DePriest, Philip E. Walker, and Morgana Ignis.[4][5] The film follows a young girl named Emma (Haven Lee Harris) who slips into a coma and finds herself in a surreal, industrial dream world where she is haunted by a monster who feeds off her tears.[1][6]

Moon Garden premiered at the 25th Dances With Films Festival on June 10, 2022.[7] The film was given a limited theatrical release in the United States by Oscilloscope Laboratories in May 2023.[8][9]

Plot

Cast

Release

Moon Garden had its world premiere at the 25th Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles, California, on June 10, 2022.[7] On October 8, 2022, the film screened at the Grimmfest Film Festival in the United Kingdom.[10][11] On November 3, 2022, it screened at the 9th FilmQuest Film Festival in Provo, Utah.[12] In April 2023, it screened at Panic Fest in Kansas City, Missouri.[13]

Moon Garden was released in select cinemas in the United States by Oscilloscope Laboratories in May 2023.[8][9]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 29 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "If writer-director Ryan Stevens Harris' story is somewhat less compelling than his bizarrely transfixing visuals, Moon Garden remains a mind-bending achievement of dark DIY fantasy."[14]

Sharai Bohannon of Dread Central praised the film's setting and the Teeth character, and wrote, "Moon Garden's world, and the imagery it provides, are what will keep audiences talking. It's so absorbing that it makes it hard to dwell on things that aren't working in the film."[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Miska, Brad (February 13, 2023). "Fantasy and Horror Collide in Stunning Trailer for 'Moon Garden'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Moon Garden (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Moon Garden (2022)". NUM. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  4. ^ McAndrews, Mary Beth (February 10, 2023). "'Moon Garden' Trailer: A Delicious And Terrifying Feast For The Senses". Dread Central. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. ^ Gingold, Michael (February 10, 2023). "Stunning Trailer Takes You Into the Nightmarish World of "Moon Garden"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e Bohannon, Sharai (December 6, 2022). "'Moon Garden' Is Magical, Beautiful, And Sad [FilmQuest 2022 Review]". Dread Central. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Moon Garden". Dances with Films. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Coming to Finer Arthouse Theaters in 2023". Moon Garden | Oscilloscope Laboratories. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. ^ a b T, Amber (May 1, 2023). "Check Out This Dreamy, Disturbing New Poster For Moon Garden". Fangoria. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (July 5, 2022). "Ryan Stevens Harris's 'Moon Garden', Scott Slone's 'Malibu Horror Story' Head To U.K.'s Grimmfest". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Moon Garden". Grimmfest. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "FilmQuest Program Guide 2022" (PDF). FilmQuest. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Logan, Kyle (April 24, 2023). "Panic Fest 2023 Review: Moon Garden, A Visual Marvel, Like Mad God's Cousin". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Moon Garden". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 24, 2023.