Offbeat Indie Horror-Noir Gazer (2025) Dives Into the Seedy Underbelly of Suburban Jersey
Title: Gazer
First Non-Festival Release: April 4, 2025 (Limited Theatrical Release)
Director: Ryan J. Sloan
Writer: Airella Mastroianni, Ryan J. Sloan
Runtime: 114 Minutes
Starring: Airella Mastroianni, Renee Ganger, Jack Alberts
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
The idea of gradually losing your mental faculties to the point where you cannot take care of yourself is terrifying for most people. The reality is closer to more of us than we may realize, as various forms of neurological atrophy are common as we age.
Suffering from dyschronometria, a neurological condition that makes her lose time and numbers her days of independence, Frankie (Ariella Mastroianni) struggles to support herself and her daughter (Emma Pearson) ever since her husband (Grant Schumacher) died by suicide. Strapped for cash, she accepts a potentially dangerous job from a mysterious woman (Renee Gagner) who she believes is escaping an abusive living situation. Her act of desperation and charity devolves into a quest to clear her name when she discovers the woman isn’t truthful with her intentions.
Hazy, hypnotic, and captivating, Gazer delivers unnerving mystery with indie charm and chills.
Gazer doesn’t provide any easy answers for its mystery and revels in its winding path towards uncovering it. Shady people, a unique affliction affecting the lead character, and an unsettling feeling of isolation amidst the never-ending parking lot of industrial parks and storage units, there is plenty of intrigue in this stripped-down thriller. The horror comes later once Frankie fully links herself with this woman’s disappearance and she stumbles through a series of increasingly disturbing revelations. When it comes together, Gazer hits.
Frankie makes for a compelling yet equally frustrating character in her journey to find answers for her increasingly worrisome circumstances. An unreliable narrator to her core, Frankie’s neurological condition is as fascinating as it is tragic. Her portrayal isn’t disability porn though. Frankie’s resilience is borne from necessity and a need to protect her mental peace. Suspected by those around her of far greater crimes than she has committed, Frankie’s refusal to protect herself leaves her vulnerable to these attacks. It’s a constant battle to not scream at the screen when she makes dumb, yet understandable mistakes given her condition and her desire to help a woman in a tough place. Well-intentioned to a fault, Frankie’s anguish serves more as a cautionary tale than a triumph, especially when Gazer creeps to its finale.
Its slow pace and off-handed inclusion of surrealist nightmare horror do detract from the overall mystery. An otherwise grounded thriller, Gazer muddies the water by introducing more hallucinatory elements as the film progresses. There’s some credence to how it can fit in within the narrative considering Frankie’s condition, but it is executed strangely. Had there been any other moments throughout Gazer that matched this tone, it would be more understandable, but this scene stands alone. Because it is such an outlier for the film, its inclusion is one that can be forgiven, if you are of the opinion, it isn’t too far out in left field.
As important as its leading players, the gritty spirit of New Jersey lingers over the narrative allowing Gazer to bring forth the seedier elements of its story with aplomb. Grounded in its portrayal, the grime of Frankie’s city feels as much a part of the shape of the film as her dyschronometria. It’s long bus rides and spartan studio apartments and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Uniquely Jersey, Gazer reveals the horrors only those trapped in the hellscape of shitty gas station jobs can fully understand. The audience is then forced to confront the resilience necessary to make it in places like it to fully understand Frankie’s circumstances.
Not for everyone, this murky horror noir simmers with a confident vision of its crime-ridden, industrial nightmare. This captivating sojourn through the suburbs of New Jersey is as enrapturing as it is compelling thanks to its dyschronometria angle. A frustrating main character and a tendency to keep its mystery closer to its chest than needed makes Gazer murkier. This simmering psychological horror film won’t be for everyone, but if hazy, noir-like slow-burns stimulate your senses, Gazer is the right film for you.
Overall Score? 6/10
