For Elric Kane’s first solo-directed feature, The Dead Thing, he takes a look at modern dating through a supernaturally distorted lens. Mixing elements of Mark Wahlberg’s first acting feature Fear, and other films dealing with sexual obsession, along with some supernatural aspects of films like Nina Forever, The Dead Thing provides a familiar story with a twist.

Stuck in a never-ending spiral of endless, meaningless app-enabled flings, Alex (Blu Hunt) can’t seem to develop anything beyond a surface connection. Living with her friend Cara (Katherine Hughes), whom she is keeping a secret from as she avoids her, which may also be playing into her nightly activities. That’s until one random encounter stirs feelings she didn’t feel she was capable of in the form of the enigmatic Kyle (Ben Smith-Peterson). After a whirlwind night together, Kyle vanishes, not to be found until weeks later. But upon his return, Kyle has changed dramatically and drags Alex and all those around her into a downward spiral of infatuation, despair, and ultimately the gravest of circumstances.

The biggest thing that The Dead Thing has going for it is Blu Hunt. Hunt delivers a sexually charged, visceral, and deeply raw performance as Alex, and it’s mesmerising to watch. Literally stripped bare, Hunt charges through this performance like a woman possessed, dominating the screen wherever she can. It’s a tour de force. The rest of the cast do their best to keep up. The film also looks beautiful as the cinematographer does excellent work.

The story may be familiar, and it takes a long while before the real horror elements for the horror elements of the story to emerge, but there’s enough that’s fresh here to keep the audience engaged until they do.