Manicured, recently awarded Best Student Film winner at the 2025 Poconos Horror Fest, deftly builds upon a style of Italian-produced thriller-horror films known to Italian audiences as giallo all’italiana. Writer and Director, Tracy Lynn Rohach, a current MFA student at Temple University, weaves a distinct slasher tale incorporating vibrant colors, music, and a tight script.
How’s the story?
Much like the lavishly crafted horror movies of Italian filmmaker Dario Argento, the giallo aesthetic reigns supreme in Manicured while story is a secondary, albeit important consideration. We meet the protagonist, a melancholy teenage girl (Jaime played by Bella Frost) mulling over a recent breakup, confiding with a friend (Nancy played by Maggie Coscia), at the tail end of a Halloween party. The dialogue, although limited, effectively establishes the protagonist. The audience quickly becomes invested in Jaime.
In mid-conversation, Jaime discovers she has a broken finger nail motivating her to obtain an emory board in a different part of the house. As she leaves, we witness Nancy encountering a stranger entering off screen into the room. What follows is clever writing, lighting technique and physical acting which slots nicely into the Giallo style. We’re never given an explanation for the presence of the antagonist. We just know that Jaime is fighting for her survival. The violence unfolds into a brutal, concise and compelling conclusion.
Final Thoughts
The level of refinement demonstrated in Manicured is laudable. What you see on the screen reflects a clear vision executed with precision. Audiences are served up whimsical exploits with a crowd-pleasing dash of horror. Considering this movie was a student production, the potential for Tracy Lynn Rohach’s professional filmmaking career is promising. In the meantime, be on the lookout for Manicured at a film festival near you.
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