The horror genre is a special one, in that it encapsulates most other genres within its wide umbrella. From comedies to drama to action to sci-fi, there is little that can’t be done within the confines of our beloved genre. The psychological tragedy that is Thommy Hutson’s The Id takes a nose dive right into the Freudian structure of the darker side of the human psychosis.
The Id follows Meridith Lane, played by Amanda Wyss A Nightmare On Elm Street) who lives with her verbally abusive father (Patrick Peduto). On what appears to be his death bed, Meridith looks after her father, tending to his every need from feeding to bathing and everything in between. He keeps her emotionally close to him by making sure her ego is never big enough to let her even leave the house. When she gets a phone call from an old flame, she let’s her fantasies get the better of her, ending with catastrophic results.
The film’s title comes from what Freud described as the humans pleasure principle. According to Freud, the Id is an important part of the human psyche, because as newborns it allows our basic principles to be met. The Id doesn’t care about reality, it lives in the fantasy part of the brain which is what makes you fantasize about the terrible things one would do for a sandwich when they are extremely hungry. Meredith’s Id leads her down a horrifying path, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy until Meridith is living entirely in a world made up of her own mind.
With a script penned by Sean H. Stewart, The Id is a dark, melancholic, and depressing film in the best way possible. Amanda Wyss gives a stellar performance as Meredith, and watching her degradation into a complete lack of control is painfully beautiful.
The Id is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as VOD.
