The message of Appendage is clear—Hannah's self-doubt is actually the creature that emerges from her body. Hannah readily accepts the lies it tells her because she has always believed them about herself and it tries to wear her down in an effort to gain more control. Hannah's best friend Esther (Kausar Mohammed), whom the creature suggests is in love with Hannah's boyfriend, makes her start to question her own friendship with Esther. The creature's words torment Hannah, and the movie illustrates how simple it is to get in one's own way when self-doubt is so pervasive.
The movie's concluding act, though, falls short of everything that came before it. The buildup is strong, but the conclusion is not as exciting as the anticipation. By the time it reaches its conclusion, Appendage has started to lose steam, which prevents the movie from reaching its maximum potential. The horror is appropriately unsettling and disturbing, particularly as the creature matures and comes into its own, but the conclusion of the tale drags down the overall intensity. All things considered, Zlokovic delivers a strong performance in Appendage, and the horror aspects support the story's message of self-doubt even though it doesn't go beyond what is necessary.
