I have a very big problem with this film. Its author mocks adult women with its portrayal of a vulnerable, unsecure and abused female character and I am a male myself. There's rape on the door steps already before entering the bedroom, which the main character sublimates into love. There's toxic and highly competitive corporate white-collar work climate that the female character, portrayed like a Kimmy Schmidt minus the charisma and the smile, must navigate but she constantly mistakes the working place for a mating habitat or a romantic medium, confounds males for trees, plants for men, evening dresses for work attire, even her own 'no' for 'yes'. Thre are constant breadcrumbs left for viewers to see who's who and what leads where, like for instance the used condom on the floor, the confession that the condom was both used and not used, from a man who assesses risk for a living. Since, judging by the place she works, the viewer must think of her as highly educated and long past puberty, the only explanation I came with, for the course of events and the 'story', others may not be necessarily be in agreement with, is that the film is either a mockery dressed up as a horror, a horror dressed up as a mockery or there's a mind behind it, itself troubled, who mistakes itself as creative. A poet armed with the wrong tools, a gardener with pots of weed instead of flowers. The horror atribute of this film refers to its perceived toxicity in viewers like myself. One of those films you watch because you're not smart and don't know better (I admit it) and neither did the filmmaker expect it. From me, even 1 star is undeserved.

Pollen(480P)

An innocent young woman, who has recently landed her dream job, gets roped into a toxic sexual relationship with a senior coworker. As a result of the trauma she endures from the relationship, she ends up in a particularly fragile mental state. During which she takes on a pot of flowers- given to her, as a gift, by the man- as her best friend, and confidant. Only for it to become a monstrous beast, that torments her both in waking life, and her nightmares. She uses the flowers as a stand in for the partner she wants him to be. But it's quite clear, they have taken on the toxic form of his actual personality. At least in the back of her mind. Though, the lines between the real and psychological are blurred by a series of synchronicities she experiences through her niece. Forcing her into a state of cognitive dissonance...that causes her to question reality. And puts her at risk of losing her job. The whole scenario acts as a metaphor for rejection. Particularly how such an experience can affect empathetic individuals, like Hera, here. Encouraging them to retain a connection to toxic aspects of their life, despite the fact that they are destroying them, from the inside out. Making the monster she sees, a projection of her own mental state. As she spirals toward delusion, as a result of the trauma she has endured. An experience that is exacerbated, amidst the pressure of trying to make it, in a fast paced environment, where the men around her are continuously trying to exploit her (in order to satiate their own lustful desires). All of which gives the film an air of dark humour...despite the rather serious subject matter it seeks to confront. In regards to how being rejected by someone, only acts to make us, as humans, seek their approval, even more. Often times, to the detriment of the more healthy relationships in our lives. Of course, Hera is not the monster here (as if that even needs to be said). The only monsters are those who use their positions of power over her to exploit her innocence. Leaving a broken girl, in their wake...where a proud young woman, full of potential, once stood. Making this a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, and hanging on to toxic relationships. With a welcome ending, to a clearly tragic tale. To cap off, what is a great little indie film. In which a symbol of torment, is subverted into a symbol of empowerment. A solid freshman feature from writer/director D. W. Medoff. With a great performance by Ava Rose Kinard. Talk about synchronicity... 7 out of 10.

The usual modern recipe here. Another mediocre dark drama that uses the Horror classification in the hope that it increases it's receipts or to find better distribution. IMDb classification says this is Horror/ Mystery/ Thriller but personally I don't see it in any of these genres. This is a drama with some dark fantasy elements and for me all these movies that come out in the last 2 to 3 years and are said to be "Psychological Horror" have nothing to do with the Horror genre, plain and simple. POLLEN is a far fetched, naive and preachy drama that shoves women empowerment elements down the viewer's throat, with only redeeming value being the good performance of Ava Rose Kinard at times (I emphasize the "at times" part here). Some reviewers said this is an art film, but I personally cannot see it as the whole thing it seems so predictable and formulaic that I could see the "surprise" ending coming from the first 20 minutes. The rest is a show of obnoxious characters including the leading lady, annoying and far fetched office bullying minutiae and a disjointed fantasy element that ultimately goes nowhere. Some promises that are given by the script are not explored even in the slightest and the end finds a horror fan like myself wondering why this was made in the first place and who really is it's target audience.

source: Pollen

Although I am not a film critic, it seemed like a first class film in every way and with a style that goes beyond commercial cinema. It has poetry, it has beauty, it teaches and nourishes. It is not the typical shocking movie, or a great production. It does not have spectacular effects. It shows a daily situation and a daily problem, but it does so sincerely and with quality. And it touches on some ethical issues that are important to raise awareness about. I think these kinds of movies aren't particularly fun, but they aren't heavy or boring either. In my opinion this film has a pinch of art that fills my spirit.

source: Pollen

source: Pollen

source: Pollen

Where to begin? This film is ...weird. It had some potential but then went into a weird direction with a weird obsession, followed by a weird spiral. So, yeah, weird. The film is about a young girl who's sexually, emotionally, and mentally abused by a guy she likes at work. Having to face him daily while working at what is supposed to be her dream job turns into a toxic environment as she's surrounded by coworkers who are self-absorbed bullies. She's given a plant that she grows an attachment to, which also begins the start of her spiral. Accompanied by her spiral are visions of a tree creature that haunts her causing her to behavior to progress. The characters are unknown and the plot really loses its entire base without any substance other than a viewer watching a character lose her mind in such a weird way. I'm sure the script on paper may have been decent but the execution was poor. This one is a 5/10, no more, no less.