Pollen is a 2023 psychological horror film directed by D. W. Medoff and starring Ava Rose Kinard. The film tells the story of Hera, a young woman who is assaulted by a senior coworker at her dream job. As she tries to keep her career together, she is tormented at work, at home, and in her dreams by a mysterious tree monster.
Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that explores the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma. Kinard gives a powerful performance as Hera, and the film's visuals are striking and atmospheric. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it.
Positives
Strong performances from Ava Rose Kinard and the supporting cast
Striking visuals and atmospheric cinematography
Thought-provoking exploration of the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma
Negatives
The film can be slow-paced at times
The ending may be unsatisfying for some viewers
Overall, Pollen is a well-made and disturbing film that is sure to stay with you long after you watch it. The film is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important and timely film that is worth watching.
Recommendation
I recommend Pollen to fans of psychological horror films, as well as anyone who is interested in films that explore the themes of sexual assault, workplace harassment, and trauma.
I am a little surprised how low its rated on IMDB. The film really is well made, well casted and well acted. Perhaps the slasher seekers don't understand the point of this film. The work environment depicted in this film is quite common in the professional office space. The only area I think it could have been better was the ending scene where the higher up is killed in the girls apartment. It just didn't fit the rest of the film. I think a better smarter revenge should have been written into the story at the end. But other than that, this feels like a A24 film.
