A RECKONING

THE SETUP

Papa Octopus Productions and Vega Baby present the release of “A Reckoning”, a Drama/Western film Written and Directed by Justin Lee (Big Legend) see review https://adamthemoviegod.com/big-legend-review-something-lie-beyond-the-woods/. A Reckoning is set in the 1800’s and picks up with Mary O’Malley (played by June Dietrich), the wife of a farmer whom she comes to learn was just brutally murdered. Seeking revenge, Mary leaves her life behind and vows at all costs to hunt down the man responsible. The film also stars Kevin Makely and Todd A. Robinson (Big Legend), as well as, Lance Henriksen (Aliens) and Meg Foster (They Live). Immediately after A Reckoning’s credits started rolling I began looking at some of the reviews for it online. Much to my surprise I only found a couple. The first was quite receptive and constructive in his feedback, the second not so much. Opting instead, to personally attack Lee and a number of those involved with the film (despite initially saying he doesn’t go on the personal attack). I have to ask what purpose does that serve? Honestly. Why would anyone want to deter others from doing something they’re clearly passionate about? It makes no sense to me why we tear each other down. This particular critic panned A Reckoning as if it were an amateur hour production, slapped together by a bunch of students going through the motions in order to get extra credit on an assignment. Not only were the comments disrespectful, they have zero merits. Now I’m well aware that we all see different things in a film, but some things are just fact. The sky is black at night, right? A Rubix cube is the shape of a cube, yeah? (cue 27 more examples). Needless to say, this particular reviewer lost all credibility in one fell swoop. That being said, I’m not saying Justin’s latest film is perfect because it’s not. Let’s get into it.

THE GOOD

What we have here is a good old fashion American western. A Reckoning was conceived on a modest budget (to say the least) by a filmmaker who’s clearly a fan of the longstanding genre. Lee is a proud and dedicated independent filmmaker who’s hard work speaks for itself (having made three films with limited cast and crew and in quick succession). The film comes across as more of a love letter to the genre rather than an action spectacle set in that very familiar world. Justin Janowitz, who served as the DP on Justin’s aforementioned film Big Legend, returns here. He frames everything nicely and utilizes what is a simple but beautiful landscape, in order to get the most bang for buck in regards to the cinematic look and feel. The sets are plain, as they would’ve been in that era, and the costumes are fittingly hardened leather and wool with colors made up of mostly earthy tones. Lee’s clear willingness to get to numerous locations, if for no other reason than to shoot coverage for establishing shots in order to build this lost world, is something to be praised. A lot of filmmakers wouldn’t bother going to those sorts of lengths. The overcast beach scenes are reminiscent of those in the post-apocalyptic survival film “The Road”. The films audio track is loud and clear, and composer, Jared Forman is no stranger to those recognizable western tones (having worked on TV’s Hell On Wheels). Lee’s introduction of Mary comes layered with subtle blues, via acoustic guitar, and later, transitions into some much darker notes with a choir singing underneath them. Sweeping violins and cello enter the fold when the drama of the piece heightens.

Plenty of film fans have been calling for stronger female protagonists and more focus on that part of the storytelling process for a while now. Westerns, in particular, have primarily been a male-dominated culture (minus the odd film here and there). It’s a nice change of pace to see Dietrich at the core of this narrative, and even Meg Foster impresses as Ms. Maple, a townie who sympathizes with Mary at the beginning of the film. Both her and Henriksen, playing a town elder of sorts, give the film another level of depth as they showcase their expertise through a couple of lengthy yarns. In fact, this is the best I’ve seen Lance in years. He takes command with every moment he’s on screen. June is solid as the strong-minded Mary, though, with just the basics of an arc, one might have hoped she’d display a wider range of expressions. I’m a little disappointed that Robinson (who was so damn good in Big Legend) doesn’t have a lot to do here. I feel like if given the chance, this guy could chew scenery with the best of them. Kevin Makely shows up for the third act, and despite the questions that come with his character “Marrow”, he turns in a lively display to close the film. To the untrained eye, A Reckoning could perhaps appear to be a case of style over substance. I’d argue that Lee knows the confines of making a film like this on such a small budget, and that’s primarily why it’s not an action-heavy film. With that said, the fight choreography is still decent and there are a couple of on-screen kills. Better than that, Mary carries the same reservations that one in a similar inexperienced position would. Lee doesn’t once make her out to be Black Widow or Wonder Woman, she’s grounded, and the learning curve that comes with that is made obvious through some of her failures.

THE BAD

You’ll probably be left with a few questions at the end of A Reckoning, and certain details perhaps aren’t as fleshed out as adequately as they could have been. The main issue here is the same one that I have with a lot of westerns, it’s a slow-burn. I like a good slower paced method of storytelling if everything gets explored during that timeframe. Unfortunately, due to the lack of action (mostly a budgetary constraint), a lot of what we’re left with for this 80-minute runtime are long-winded transitions and copious amounts of interaction with secondary characters who never really fully figure into the equation. There’s a ten-minute scene involving a local trader that Mary happens upon. It does serve as a means for her supplies but they talk for what seems like forever, and she eventually stays the night. The sequence probably could have been cut in half and it wouldn’t have lost anything. Marrow (so in turn Kevin) goes on what can only be described as an environmentally defensive rant in the latter stages of the film and seeing as though it’s our first look at the character, there’s no real significance to any of it. Short of mentioning a trail that most travelers seem to take, Mary never reveals how she knows where to find the mystery man, or who he even is. I guess she figures it’ll be obvious when the time comes (which turns out to be true), but still, can anyone say coincidence? The film may have benefited from introducing a flashback scene involving Marrow and the late husband, giving the audience at least a piece of the puzzle in relation to what went down. In addition, it serves to break up the monotony of Mary’s constant travels. Speaking of her journey, after she takes care of a certain bit of business (those who’ve seen it will know the scene I’m referring to) I expected she’d want to get her horse back? Especially when it’s going to potentially save you a day or two on foot. I thought that element of her story was a touch thin.

I’m really surprised that Justin Lee’s, A Reckoning isn’t getting more love from critics and western fans alike. Other than perhaps “Jane Got A Gun”, and to a lesser extent “Brimstone” (which was epic), both of which featured heavy hitting casts and were made on much bigger budgets, there’s been little in the way of female orientated protagonists within the genre. It’s important to understand the Director’s intent and the restrictions that almost always come with DIY, independent filmmaking. If you don’t, perhaps you’re not the best person equipt to be critiquing it. A Reckoning has plenty working in its favor. The cinematography is high-class, the set design looks neat and the costumes were given the appropriate sense of detail. The music is some of the best I’ve heard in a while and each of the performances is solid. In spite of what could be considered a reserved visage, Dietrich holds it all together, and Lance Henriksen and Meg Foster deliver some of their best work in recent memory. The slow burn nature is bound to put some viewers off, and I’ll be honest by saying it does get a little strenuous at times. I think had we got more of a look at Makely’s character and that lead up to his conclusion with Mary’s husband, it might have evened things out somewhat. Not all of the decision-making seems logical, nor do we gain any solid proof behind Mary’s knowledge of Marrow’s whereabouts or identity. I’m not going to fault Lee for the film’s lack of action because I have a good grasp of the limitations on a film like this. A Reckoning is clearly Justin’s avenue for showing an appreciation and love of the genre and I can’t see how that could possibly be a bad thing. If you’re a fan of simplistic storytelling in the parameters of a western, this one is well worth your time. You can purchase the film on DVD and it’s also available through various streaming platforms now. Check out the trailer below!

My rating for “A Reckoning” is 6.5/10

14 CAMERAS

THE SETUP

Bought to you by Gravitas Ventures and Hood River Entertainment comes “14 Cameras”, A Horror/Thriller Written by Victor Zarcoff (13 Cameras) and Co-Directed by Seth Fuller and Scott Hussion. 14 Cameras is the follow-up to 2015’s 13 Cameras, a film that centered around Gerald, a seedy and reclusive landlord with a specific perverse pleasure for surveilling people while they went about their daily lives *see review* https://adamthemoviegod.com/13-cameras-review/. 14 Cameras opens up with Gerald (played by the returning Neville Archambault) once again, mid spying on a young vacationing couple (played by Zach Dulin and Kodi Saint Angelo) who are unknowingly staying in a home that he actually leases. Later, a family of five comes to stay in the same lavish home but are unaware that Gerald has rigged the place with a series of spy cameras that are live streaming 24 hours a day over the internet. The film also stars Amber Midthunder (Hell Or High Water), Brytnee Ratledge (Only The Brave), Brianne Moncrief (13 Cameras), Chelsea Edmundson, John-Paul Howard, Hank Rogerson, Lora-Martinez Cunningham and Gavin White.

THE GOOD

I enjoyed the structure of Zarcoff’s original film (which he also directed) and how it raised the concerns that come with these sorts of technological advancements. Perhaps the more we learn about electronics, the less we can control in terms of confidentiality.  The subject matter fittingly lends itself to a voyeuristic presentation and Fuller (also the DP) handles that very well. Much like in the first film, the production is a balanced mix of surveillance footage and conventional cinematography. Much of Gerald’s screen time is spent watching his cameras, so we see what he sees. Then when the film takes a more intimate look at the seemingly oblivious subjects, we start to get the more cinematic approach. Fuller’s framing is neat and he employs a lot of nice tracking shots and rotating movements over the course of the 90 minutes. The resulting edit is clean,  the pacing is good, and the audio track is consistently clear. The music by Paul Koch is quite tempered, not something you’d usually expect in this type of thriller but it works. There are some nice low-end synth notes but it’s the use of a heartbeat sound effect that really stands out and coincides with Gerald’s growing elation. Due to its subtlety (I know… who’d have thought?), it actually took me a while to realize a few of the surprising connections to the first film. The biggest improvement upon the previous 13 Cameras is the sheer likeability factor with some of Victor’s new characters. That and the multiple avenues that see three sets of different characters given screen time over the course of the story, rather than just the one.

In spite of some fairly one-dimensional bases, most of the core family present as inherently nice people. There isn’t the petty level of bickering and overplayed drama that surrounded the young couple in Zarcoff’s previous film. I even like the couple that was introduced in the beginning and was disappointed they got such little screen time, especially Kodi who was lovely. All the performances are solid and each of the female characters looks gorgeous. Two different stories play out simultaneously over the course of 14 Cameras. Married couple, Arthur (Rogerson) and Lori (Cunningham) unknowingly become targets of Gerald’s after renting the home and dragging their teenage kids, Molly (Ratledge) and Kyle (Howard) along, with Molly’s best friend, Amber (Midthunder) in tow. Molly’s the type of girl who is very much what you see is what you get, but Danielle, whose struggling with a cheating boyfriend, clearly has a little bit more of a wild side that comes to the surface when she drinks and smokes. Kyle is sort of third wheeling it and doesn’t really want to be there but does the family thing anyway. The second story involves Sarah (played by Edmundson), a young woman who is held against her will by Gerald, and who ultimately ends up working with another victim (Moncrief) in a desperate attempt to escape. Whilst everyone is solid in their respective roles, it’s Archambault that takes the cake here. His brutish nature and imposing physicality is something seldom seen, but that’s only part of the reason he impresses. It’s actually his jilted mannerisms, mouth always agape, and the fact that he says very little, in turn making Gerald so powerful. Additionally, Archambault has protruding varicose veins that help project an unwavering intensity. Gerald doesn’t just watch, he interacts via some creepy behavior that appears to be randomly gone for at any given stage.

THE BAD

Some of the editing transitions are unnecessarily jolting as they go between the various house cameras. I don’t like the shaky approach that’s representative of someone knocking the camera. Clean cuts would’ve looked a lot better. It’s conveniently always quite dark inside the holiday home, especially as night approaches. Even after the girls hear a few noises and begin to suspect that all might not be as it seems, they still don’t actually turn on any lights. I didn’t find that overly realistic. There are a number of different locations that Gerald makes his way around to over the course of the film and I lost my bearings on a couple of occasions. I couldn’t help but think logistics might have been more problematic for him than we’re led to believe. There’s the key location where the family are staying, Gerald’s place, Sarah’s unit (I don’t know where that is in relation to the other desolate locations) and a hole in the ground that serves as his underground “chamber” (for lack of a better word), which I believe was on the same property as his house but I’m not entirely sure. The film is nicely paced but the anticipated payoff doesn’t come in the usual form of a body count or an escalation in on-screen violence. Most of the dialogue is pretty well-written but Kyle not being able to go a sentence without dropping the F-bomb does get a bit tedious. There’s a few continuity issues and details we’re not privy to but they’re fairly minimal. E.g, What was his incentive behind live streaming the family across the internet? It seems like a big risk to take if you’re trying to stay anonymous. Little things like not being shown how Gerald ultimately vacates a place that’s being guarded by a dog, or when he’s hit by the truck in the third act it occurs via the wrong direction. We see young, Jr (White) facing the engine with his back to Gerald, which would indicate the driver needing to move forward to run him over, but instead, she reverses to do it. Speaking of the truck, it’s big, and it’s likely that someone would’ve seen it parked at one of the locations, especially considering Gerald visits each of them multiple times.

14 Cameras is a surprisingly good Horror/Thriller sequel, albeit somewhat predictable. It’s reminiscent of films like “Alone With Her” and the incredibly underrated “388 Arletta Avenue”. Seth and Scott explore the potentially damaging effects of a world controlled by big brother, especially when those capabilities are accessible to everyday people. The cinematography methods are practical, the sound design is good, and the music works well too. The inclusion of several more characters, of whom are likable, is a welcomed addition. Each of the performances is strong and the story ends up cleverly tying into Zarcoff’s original film. Neville Archambault’s intense portrayal of a seemingly sleazy man, who deep down is perhaps just a lonely soul, is the main reason for giving 14 Cameras a spin. Some of the editing techniques and faint lighting weren’t fully to my liking, and if you’re not paying attention to the ever-changing locations you can get lost. There are a handful of minor continuity troubles and a few things that raise questions. A little more action wouldn’t have gone astray either. It’s rare that a sequel outshines its original, but 14 Cameras just so happens to be the superior of Zarcoff’s two films. If you like the less is more approach when it comes to your thrillers, I think you’ll get a kick out of this one. It’s currently playing on Netflix and you can check out the official trailer below!

My rating for “14 Cameras” is 6.5/10

HALLOWEEN

THE SETUP

WARNING: For anyone who hasn’t yet seen John Carpenter’s iconic 1978 Horror/Slasher film “Halloween”, this in-depth analysis of the film will contain many SPOILERS. I also urge people who have a categorized bias toward the film to proceed with caution, as I aim to strip every element of it right back. Halloween is a Horror/Slasher film set in the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois and it centers around teenage babysitter, Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) whose stalked on Halloween night by Michael Myers (Tony Moran), a knife-wielding maniac. The film also stars Donald Pleasence (The Great Escape) as “Dr. Loomis” Michael’s psychiatrist, Nancy Kyes (The Fog) as “Annie” Laurie’s best friend, P.J Soles (Carrie) as “Lynda”, and Charles Cyphers (The Fog) as “Sheriff Brackett”.

THE GOOD

There’s simply no doubting that this genre-defining classic will forever have its place in the history of horror filmmaking. Released in October of 78′ and made on a budget of just $300,000, John Carpenter’s Halloween went on to gross 47 million dollars just in the US alone. It became the highest grossing film of the time, a record that it held for many years, but why was it so successful? I suppose in most people’s minds, up until its release, the only films that even slightly resembled what we’ve since coined “the slasher”, were the works of Alfred Hitchcock in the 60’s (Psycho). Genre greats, Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper, who were also young filmmakers at the time, had explored a much more exploitative brand of horror with their respective films, “The Hills Have Eyes” from 77′ and the groundbreaking “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” in 74′, but there was nothing quite like the idea of a cat and mouse game between young teens and a deranged psychopath… or was there? Because that’s not entirely true, is it? Bob Clark’s 1974 Horror film “Black Christmas”, about a group of sorority girls being stalked by a stranger on Christmas, may well have played a part in shaping Carpenter’s idea behind Halloween. Even still, horror, as we know it today, was uncharted territory in the United States at that time (minus perhaps The Exorcist). The Giallo (Italian murder mystery) was flooding the European market throughout the 70’s but there was very little in the way of genuine slasher horror until Halloween came along.

Groundbreaking for the time, Halloween’s consequent success was in big part due to its marketing and promotion. The studios cut a restrained trailer, designed an eye-catching one sheet, and the film was officially released just a few days before the holiday itself. Being born in 86′, I never had the privilege of seeing the film in the era it was intended to be seen in, so I’ve got fresh eyes on it I suppose. That said, I’m a proud cinephile and I love films of all genres from all eras and I don’t let pre-conceived notions affect my judgment or critique. Halloween is most certainly a slow-burn where very little slashing actually occurs. I can respect that it was a different time though, with different standards and methods for scaring audiences. Even with its lack of excitement and somewhat passive progression, the film never gets boring. Carpenter is able to sustain the desired atmosphere even when not a lot is happening on-screen. I’m a sucker for Horror against the backdrop of safe, small-town, American suburbia and that’s one of the best things Halloween has going for it, Haddonfield. The streets are clean, the trees are leafy, houses are unassuming and the neighborhood is quiet. Enter, Michael Myers, who was once a 6-year-old boy who stabbed his sister Judith to death and wound up institutionalized, now, an adult escapee patient looking to return to his hometown to kill again. That contrast of a peaceful and somewhat naive community going about their daily lives while a masked killer lurks in the shadows (or not in the shadows as is often the case here) is what makes Halloween appealing. With Michael Myers, Carpenter created one of the most memorable villains in the history of horror cinema. The combination of the mechanic’s jumpsuit, the William Shatner look mask, and the long kitchen knife, makes it all extremely unnerving, at least aesthetically speaking.

Let’s talk about some of the technical facets that make Halloween a memorable viewing experience. Carpenter’s regular DP, Dean Cundey shot the film on 35mm with a Panavision Panaflex camera and the end result in cinematography is impressive. It’s incredibly clean, the framing is expertly handled, and the use of shadows through lighting help to create some of the more memorable shots. Carpenter is always aware of how much or how little to show of Myers at any given time. So much so that Michael isn’t fully revealed to the audience until the climax and showdown with Laurie. Long takes of nothingness amplify the atmosphere, and clever gentle camera positioning and tracking gives some diversity to the presentation. Whenever you mention Halloween, it’s usually that iconic piano and synth motif that first comes to mind, made famous by Carpenter himself. It’s a great piece of music and it continues to live on all these years later. If I’m critical of one thing it’s that it’s overused throughout the film, and slowly but surely it negates the fear initially induced by the sudden appearance of Michael. The theme conveniently cues his arrival every single time when it really doesn’t need to, and in fact, the film would have been scarier had it not. Aside from some inventive daytime leering, the two best scenes in Halloween are the opening POV sequence (point of view) followed by the drive to the facility, as well as Michael’s final showdown with Laurie. Contrary to popular belief, the opening isn’t unique because of its POV element, which Bob Clark had previously explored in the aforementioned Black Christmas but didn’t get the praise he should’ve. No, the reason it’s so good is that you don’t know the context yet, the motive (if there is one), or who’s under the mask. What a great way to start a horror film. The unique nature of daytime stalking is great and it works surprisingly well here. The scenes in which Michael just stands off in the distance are incredibly simple but effective. I also like the way he uses a vehicle as a means of surveillance and doesn’t just do it all on foot.

THE BAD

Okay. So now’s where things are going to get a little controversial. I haven’t done detailed research on the holiday itself or its initial inception, but I know it’s been around a long time. Halloween is a huge tradition embraced in many places around the world, and none more so than in the United States. Bringing me to the biggest weakness in John Carpenters film, the complete lack of attention to detail surrounding the night itself. There can be no denying that Halloween is simply void of any actual Halloween, and that’s a problem. In fact, if not for the title, a few jack o lanterns and Myers putting a bed sheet over his head to imitate a ghost, you wouldn’t even know it was October 31st. Hardcore fans are certainly set in their ways and refuse to acknowledge that the film is missing many crucial details that appropriately set the scene. Some argue that’s just being nit-picky and all the film is about is Michael Myers vs Laurie and the cat and mouse game between the two. I’d argue that you don’t have to delve deep at all in order to notice all the little shortcomings in Halloween, and they all add up. How can there be nothing but a few pumpkins to represent the holiday? I liken it to a western without horses or a saloon, A war picture without uniforms and guns. Would you believe that? With a $300,000 budget, I’m quite sure Carpenter could’ve set a small portion of it aside so as to authentically establish the foundation for the film, So the question is why didn’t he? And why has no one ever questioned it? There’s not a single decoration to be found throughout the movie. No cobwebs, no cheap gags, no toilet paper covered trees. Carpenter even introduces a scene at the school which is just one of a number of opportunities to hang some fake cobwebs, buy some cheap props and gags. It’s a school, a building full of kids (and kids love Halloween) and yet there’s no promotion. No costumes, no banners, not a single mention of candy, nothing. No matter how you spin it that’s incredibly poor for someone as good as Carpenter. If for whatever reason funds were tight, the simple fix would have been to establish that the film takes place on another night other than Halloween itself. Perhaps the eve of?

As I previously mentioned, it’s not like there weren’t opportunities to create some of these missing facets either. There are some kids at the beginning that could’ve later figured into events but don’t. Lindsey and Tommy, the two kids that Laurie ends up looking after, are the only ones given any screen time and they don’t at any point indicate anything Halloween Esq. Not to mention their acting is really weak. There’s a scene where Lynda and Bob are having sex and he leaves the room to go and get the beer, a prime example of good timing to perhaps introduce a trick or treater to help build the suspense. Is it Michael at the front door or not? Is he inside? If for no other reason than to give credence to the fact that it’s actually Halloween. What’s worse is that Carpenter indirectly highlights some of these problems through pieces of the dialogue and specific characters actions. Now, I’m not saying the audience needs to be shown absolutely everything, especially if it isn’t crucial to the advancement of the story, but how about something? Just one thing? Because I don’t recall any. Sheriff Brackett finds Dr. Loomis outside the old Myers house waiting on Michael’s return, and it’s understood that later he patrols the town looking for suspicious behavior. I suppose that’s fair enough, but he makes mention of just seeing the usual Halloween stuff, looters and such. Well, everything we’ve seen (or not seen) in Haddonfield up to that point suggests that there’s very little activity and there aren’t even many kids around as it is. Time would have been better well spent if Brackett actually informed his station of the escaped Myers and how much of a danger to the town he is. Though If I’m honest, that’s not really the issue because it’s all just passing dialogue between him and Loomis. The bigger problem is that awful line from Laurie as she looks out the window to a street with literally nothing happening on it and proceeds to say, “Everyone is having a great time tonight”….. ah, excuse me? What? Who is everyone? There’s no one around! The edit was odd, to say the least. I’ve been informed by fans that the blue van on the street (which apparently belongs to Bob) is the visual cue Laurie is referring to in regard to her friends being the ones having such a great night while she’s stuck babysitting. We’re never officially introduced to Bob prior to his scene with Lynda though so I’m not sure how we’re supposed to know it’s his van? If that’s what Carpenter meant to imply he could’ve easily had Laurie say the line to herself in frustration rather than showcase an empty street at the most inopportune time.

I found Halloween void of even an ounce of tension, nor were any of the performances believable. Two aspects that are of the utmost importance in a film like this. Had they been better, I might have not been looking elsewhere at all those little specifics. If the streets were at least semi-populated it probably would’ve been a great cover for Myers and raised the suspenseful component of the film. The one thing Carpenter does get right is the atmosphere, mainly due to the aforementioned cinematography and his eerie score. Unfortunately, atmosphere doesn’t translate to suspense. The body count is low and the on-screen violence is almost non-existent, so all that’s left is the scares. Now I’m well aware that this was violence in 1978 and people didn’t know any better, but now, such is not the case and that makes the viewing experience completely different. I can let Curtis’s emotionally strained performance slide somewhat, if for no other reason than it was her first time in front of the camera, but I have no idea how people see her as a scream queen (well a good one anyway). It’s all the little things like eye line and incorrect directional delivery that threw me off. All of Annie’s stuff is particularly bad. At one stage she’s having a conversation on the phone in her kitchen while she’s babysitting. Young, Lindsey sitting in the lounge which is to Annie’s right, yet when she calls out to her she does so facing the left, wherein a previous shot it’s established that to her left is the end of the house. Michael is also shown watching her straight through the window and in the very next shot he’s standing at the side of the garden bed and the window is now at an angle like he’s reapproaching. Those are just a couple of examples of things that had me scratching my head. Each of the performances is incredibly weak and despite what fans say, the era had very little to do with that. John Dall and Farley Granger were very good in Hitchcock’s “Rope” and that was in 48′. Anthony Perkins was impressive in “Psycho” and even Brad Dourif’s debut role in the masterpiece “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” 3 years prior to Halloween was great. They’re just a few examples supporting the fact that the time period had very little to do with it. I know we’ve come a long way but no one could ever convince me that the standard of acting in Halloween is anything other than bad. Even Donald Pleasence comes up short and he had 25 years experience prior to Halloween, I don’t know what happened here.

Carpenter missed his chance with both Loomis and Brackett, to make sense of why his version of Halloween night appears so inexplicably peaceful. Despite my earlier sentiments about changing the date of the film, all viewers really need is a reason as to why there’s nobody around. If Dr. Loomis was serious about Haddonfield and Myers (whom he claims is pure evil after having looked into his eyes) he would’ve insisted that Brackett’s station get a town-wide curfew in effect (much like Craven did in Scream), in turn, making sense of the empty neighborhood and all the absent particulars that one can’t help but question. Hell, even when Loomis appears on-screen in the latter part of the film he’s strolling up the street or standing around in one place. There’s no sense of urgency about any of it and there’s no excuse for that. Once again, the common response from fans is that they’re all nitpicky issues. For mine, nitpicking would be highlighting the credibility of a psychiatric facility without any security. There sure as hell doesn’t appear to be any when Loomis and the nurse discover patients outside the gate. I wouldn’t ordinarily even mention that scene because the lead into it through the forest and the heavy rain is so well done aside from that fact. Reaching would be emphasizing what a coincidence it is that Loomis finds the abandoned mechanics vehicle and white hospital gown right by where he just so happens to stop to make a phone call (doing so without any prior paper trail on Michael). Other things like not officially introducing Bob, something that would have made sense during the school scene, or even questioning where the parents are in all of this? Did Laurie’s parents go away? What about Annie’s mom? Does she have a mom? Maybe it doesn’t matter but all these little things better flesh out the characters. Otherwise what you’re left with is one-dimensional arcs all around, as is the case with Halloween. It’s painstakingly clear that Carpenter’s intention was to solely focus on Michael and Laurie, however, for that to occur, he left out too many things to make the film believable. For that reason alone I can’t see how Halloween could be the masterpiece everyone seems to think it is, it can’t possibly be.

So I’m well aware at this point that it probably sounds like I’m tearing into a film that has since become one of the most iconic films in the history of horror, but I’m really not. Hear me out, yes, I’m a self-proclaimed fan of “new school” horror more so than one of old and I make no apologies for that. With that said, I still like and respect the films that paved the way and ultimately made the genre what it is today. I’ve seen John Carpenter’s Halloween three times and there’s certainly a few things to like about it, but perhaps because I wasn’t there in that time and place I can’t truly get an accurate read on it. Now it may not be fair, but all I can do is analyze where it fits in the genre now and how it stands up by today’s standard. I’m sure that if Halloween were remade today (which it was and successfully by Rob Zombie) but followed most of the same aspects as Carpenter’s film but cleaned up all the easily rectifiable issues it has, it’d be a very impressive and timeless film. Unfortunately, I can’t see it in that light. Every facet of the genre has changed so much over the years, from the standard of acting, the technical capabilities, and even the writing, and I just don’t see a way in which Carpenter’s film holds up in relation to any of those things. I respect the hell out of the man and he’s made some great films over the years (some of my favorites) but I have to call a spade a spade and question the masses and what they’re seeing. Halloween is supposed to be a horror/slasher masterpiece and yet it’s got no real slashing, nor is it scary, not even close. If you do happen to find this film frightening I’d suggest perhaps seeking some professional help (I kid, sort of). Masterpieces are few and far between in any genre and even more so in horror. When I think of films that are the best at what they do though,  I think of both Wes Cravens film “Scream”, a slasher that reinvented the wheel, and A Nightmare On Elm St, one that gave birth to an iconic villain in Freddy Krueger. The Thing (also from Carpenter), Argento’s “Suspiria” and even independent films like Bryan Bertino’s “The Strangers” and Mickey Keating’s “Darling” come to mind. Sad to say I just don’t think of Halloween in the same light, I wish I did.

My rating for “Halloween” is 4.5/10

REVENGE

THE SETUP

Firstly, I’d just like to say thank you to Alicia Diaz from October Coast PR and Beta Cinema for sending me a link to an online screener of the Norwegian made, Drama/Thriller film “Revenge” aka “Hevn”, Written and Directed by Kjersti Steinsbo. Revenge introduces us to a grief-stricken and angry Rebekka (played by Siren Jorgensen), a traveling journalist whose just recently lost her sister, a previously emotionally damaged individual. In search of answers, she makes her way back to a beautiful waterfront town in the fjords of Western Norway that she’d previously visited years before. It’s there that she meets hotel owners and lovely couple, Morten and Nina (Frode Winther and Maria Bock). Rebekka slowly begins to gain the families trust when they take her in, all the while assimilating with some of the locals who consist of bar owner, Bimbo (played by Anders Baasmo Christiansen) and a troubled young woman named Maya (Helene Bergsholm). Rebekka maps out a plan of revenge that involves catching a predator in the act with a young teen, Sara (played by Kine Jentoft). The film also stars Trond Espen Seim and Rakel Hamre.

THE GOOD

There’s been a number of impressive Scandinavian genre films in recent years, a couple of my favorites being “Headhunters” and “Flocken”. The latter of which calls to mind Steinsbo’s setting for Revenge. Revenge or “Hevn” as it’s known in Europe, was shot back in 2015 but is just now seeing an official release. The film is a slow-burn dramatic thriller that reveals itself carefully over the course of the 95 minute run time. Right off the bat, you’ll notice how the luscious landscape lends itself perfectly to our seemingly happy couples tranquil existence. It allows DP, Anna Myking to set the scene from the outset with some stunning aerial vision of the mountainous countryside, the quaint town, and its surrounding lake. There are a few nice tracking shots and simple techniques employed to raise the production value and most of the framing looks good. The audio track is clean and all the hardcoded English subtitles are accurate. The music is another real feature of Revenge. The opening experimental pop song performed by Thea Hjelmeland (according to IMDB) is engaging and unique, the vocals reminiscent of someone like Kate Miller-Heidke. A crew of around eight musicians were involved in the lively score. There’s a nice dramatic piano motif in some early scenes and the bass and cello take effect once characters intentions start to come to the surface. Each of the performances is well grounded, but it’s the efforts of Jorgensen whose the backbone of the piece that makes it all work. Bock and Winther have a natural chemistry together and as Rebekka discovers, their characters, as a pair, are genuinely likable. Revenge is ultimately quite predictable, but interestingly enough Christiansen’s character becomes the most important in the film. I enjoy it when a character’s arc takes an unforeseen direction, and in Revenge, it’s “Bimbo’s” who does.

THE BAD

Even though a bulk of the cinematography is pretty good, I wasn’t a fan of some of the Steadicam work. The askew balance is evident in a few early shots of Rebekka wandering the terrain and going into town. There are a few unnecessarily heavy shadows on actors faces and it’s often bouncing from the corners of the internals as well. Revenge isn’t a stylistic piece of work so those techniques feel somewhat removed. A couple of the key plot devices are rather far-fetched and your overall assessment of the film may hinge on whether you can accept them or not. Rebekka comes to town under a false identity, passing herself off as a magazine writer. Smart, right? So she’s switched on enough to do that but not enough to ensure that she has her bases covered regarding actually selling the lie. She tells Morten and Nina that she lost her luggage at the airport, a mistake unlikely to be made by someone in her supposed line of work, someone who travels all the time. Anywho, no one really questions it so she dodges bullet number one. Rebekka then proceeds to somehow convince Morten, through phone texting, that she is his friend’s daughter, Sara (Jentoft). That might be credible if we saw Sara take her father Ivar’s phone at some point to find Morton’s number or vice versa, he takes his friend phone to get her number, but we don’t see either. If Sara’s name came up in Morton’s contacts, surely he’d think how did she get my number? We see Rebekka briefly meddle with Morten’s phone when he leaves it unattended, but last time I checked you couldn’t pretend to send messages as someone else unless you had their sim card (which the appropriate number is assigned to) because the other part would just recognize the number. The other issue is simply that it’s a risky proposition to play those sorts of games and assume that the two people won’t actually talk to each other at some point.

The release of the Norwegian made Drama/Thriller Revenge or “Hevn” has been a long time coming. It’s a slow burn piece of poetic justice and Kjersti does a fine job of directing. The setting is absolutely beautiful, the music is aptly moody and some of the cinematography is well-defined. The performances are quite impressive and a couple of the character arcs are carefully structured despite the film being a little too predictable. There are a few shortcomings or personal preference issues I had with the camera techniques and lighting but this is Steinsbo’s debut feature-length film, so credit where credit is due. A few crucial plot points are extremely convenient and perhaps call into question the overall credibility of the foundation and that does hold the film back somewhat. At the end of the day though Revenge is a fine film, and if you’re a fan of dark European cinema you’ll definitely enjoy this one. It’s just been released for a limited theatrical run in LA but keep an eye out for the wider release coming soon. You can check out the trailer below!

My rating for “Revenge” is 6.5/10

BLOOD WIDOW

THE SETUP

This is an official review for the Region 1 (US) DVD of Arcani Pictures 2014 Horror film “Blood Widow”, Co-Written by Chad Coup, Ian Davis and Jeremiah Buckhalt (who also directs). Blood Widow is a modern slasher film about a young wealthy couple, Laurie and Hugh (played by Danielle Lilley and Brandon Kyle Peters) who have just purchased a getaway home outside the city. What they don’t know is that the neighboring property was once home to an old boarding school where a horrific massacre took place years before. However, the sole survivor of the brutal murders still resides in the depths of the long-since abandoned building and when a group of Laurie and Hugh’s friends arrive to celebrate the housewarming, all mayhem breaks loose and the mystery woman fights back. The film also stars Christopher de Padua, Jose Vasquez, Kelly Quinn, Emily Cutting and Gabrielle Ann Henry.

THE GOOD

In a nutshell, Blood Widow is a prime example of most slashers. What you see is what you get. Buckhalt and Co, who are clearly fans of the now well-established sub-genre, are all about the simple formulaic slasher antics done on a limited budget (estimated at $65,000). Blood Widow might be camera operator, Andrew Barton’s only credit as of 2018 but the film is decently shot and nicely framed. There’s a number of gentle camera movements and the overall edit is pretty good. The score isn’t overly memorable but the use of bass works well in order to create a few suspenseful moments throughout. If I’m honest, the performances are a bit of a mishmash but seeing as this is Peters film debut he does an alright job as Hugh. Danielle Lilley is cute and most of her general dialogue works, but the issue is that Laurie (yet another Halloween reference in a modern horror) isn’t all that likable and yet you’re stuck with her for the long haul. The foursome of Padua, Vasquez, Quinn, and Cutting are pretty raw and they have their weaknesses, but they only really serve to be fodder for the blood widow anyway. Like any worthwhile slasher, the combination of a semi-unique villain (that just so happens to be a strong woman) and a series of entertaining kills is what ultimately makes the film a fun watch. The all white mask and slick leather outfit, with additional black-coated armor plating, give the concealed killer a look inspired by Asian horror. A couple of violent kills are on display in the second act, the likes of which include a neck being slit, along with two decapitations. There’s also a nice early kill for fans who don’t like to wait, though it could’ve used some more blood spray. The big savage finish involving the widow and Laurie makes for a fun finish.

THE BAD

As is usually expected with independent films some of Blood Widow’s technical aspects don’t quite cut it. The quality of the foley isn’t bad, but the volume is too low in the mix for the impact hits to take effect during those action sequences. The audio levels are inconsistent and the mix of the respective channels is off. The bulk of the color grading varies hugely from shot to shot as well. Exteriors are in low-light due to overcast weather and the interiors that follow are suddenly bright and sun-drenched. Once the film transitions to-night everything looks better. The music choice for the party scene is your usual monotone dance beats, been there done that, give us something different. I’m not necessarily going to fault Blood Widow for lacking originality, most slashers do. In the words of alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies, “It’s all been done”. Still, critics have no choice other than to acknowledge that it’s a genre wide issue. Some of the secondary actors are quite rough around the edges, namely the pairing that plays the Wilsons, the couple from which our young duo purchase the house from. Most of the key characters here are throwaway ones, in the sense that we don’t really learn anything about them, nor do we care. That lack of exposition can work for films that either have a strong protagonist, or where the writers are just looking to raise the body count. Sadly, such is not the case with Black Widow, not when characters like Kelly Quinn’s “Harmony” exist. She’s an old soul with a hippie mentality that just doesn’ seem to fit the mold of the rest of the group of friends. There are patches of weak dialogue, most notably from Laurie. That and she can’t seem to make up her mind regarding the house or her relationship. Initially, she’s totally on board with purchasing the home and then out of nowhere she’s talking with her friends and questioning the decision, ultimately throwing it back in Hugh’s face. There’s a bit too much relationship drama for my liking.

I’ve had Blood Widow sitting in my collection for a few years so it was nice to finally get around to checking it out. It calls to mind similar indie efforts like, “Steel Trap” and “Bunni” https://adamthemoviegod.com/bunni-review/ and serves its purpose well as another low-level entry into the sub-genre. The artwork looks great, the premise is simple and both the camera work and music are pretty decent. Peters and Lilley’s respective characters look well suited to be a couple and the pair’s performances are certainly better than the rest. Most of Blood Widow’s budget was clearly spent on creating a memorable villain and some fun kills to showcase the practical blood and gore effects. On the downside, a lot of the technical elements needed some fine-tuning and the finished product could’ve definitely benefited from a re-master. The scripts foundation is alright but it offers very little in the way of character arc, that and some of the dialogue isn’t great either. The secondary characters, and in turn the actors, aren’t on-screen that long, which is a good thing because they’re rather weak. Its problems aside, Blood Widow is a perfectly serviceable slasher with a quick run time of just 77 minutes. I can recommend this one to fans of independent horror and the aforementioned films. Check out the official trailer below and if you want to purchase the film you can do so from a number of different outlets.

My rating for “Blood Widow” is 5.5/10

CHIMES

THE SETUP

Firstly, I’d just like to say thank you to Irish actor, Martin O’Sullivan (Catcalls) and Motum Films for hooking me up with a screener of the 18 minute Drama/Thriller short “Chimes”, Written and Directed by first time filmmaker, Jannine Benkhardt. Chimes opens to a young downtrodden boy (Finian Duff Lennon) sitting in a basement. Head low, knees crossed and looking fearful of his mother (played by Michelle Audrey). Years of abuse later, a now adult, Paul (O’Sullivan) has become a killer. His latest target being fellow church-goer, Mary (Cristina Ryan). How much of who and what we are is ultimately decided by circumstance? And in the face of all of it is there a way to find salvation? The film also stars Degnan Geraghty, Thomas Leggett and Angel Hannigan.

THE GOOD

Chimes has really nice production value for an independent film. Conor Fleming’s framing is consistent and most of the camera work is simple but effective. The audio track is clear and there’s some clever uses of music that work in tandem to complement the on-screen violence. Paul is clearly an emotionally scarred man, that much is evident from the moment he awakens from his bed, current day. Chimes appear to be both a trigger and a familiar haven for Paul as he tries to balance a tortured mindset. The consensus among most psychologists is that trauma is often at the root of all deep-seated emotional and physical problems. For the most part no one is born evil, a notion that’s displayed in this thriller short. The acting is serviceable, with O’Sullivan as the lead, and Geraghty as a Priest, both sharing equal screen time and each turning in solid performances. Cristina Ryan is good with limited material too.

THE BAD

Unfortunately, Chimes as a narrative isn’t quite gripping enough to warrant an 18 minute run time. The film tries to go between time periods, with Paul as a child and showing his connection to the Priest, and then back to him as an adult. There’s no obvious specifics to highlight the early era, nor do those scenes feel like a conventional flashback. The initial interaction between Paul and Mary lacks some clarity as well. I thought perhaps the two already knew each other, after all, they’re looking at each other like they do and they’re attending the same church. It quickly became clear when they started conversing that it was a first time introduction though. When it came to the cat and mouse game, Mary had very little fight in her. In fact, minus a few flat whimpers when she’s captured, she doesn’t once yell or scream for help and that was disappointing.

Chimes is a serviceable debut Thriller short from a young Irish film maker. There’s some good cinematography on display, clean sound and a few nice performances. The subject matter is interesting but difficult to analyse thoroughly in a short medium. I think those uncertain dynamics of Paul and Mary hurt the film and the lack of compelling substance makes it appear lengthier than it actually is. The two timelines don’t have resounding separation and Mary makes for a lightweight protagonist. All in all I still think the film is creative and worth a watch, and it’s great to see more women getting involved in the industry. Keep an eye out for Chimes soon and you can check out the teaser trailer below!

My rating for “Chimes” is 5.5/10

PLEDGE

THE SETUP

Firstly, I’d just like to start off by thanking Stag Pictures and both Writer/Actor, Zack Weiner and Director, Daniel Robbins for allowing me early access to a screener of the new Horror/Thriller film “Pledge”. Pledge is set in the world of exclusive college fraternities, centering around a trio of freshmen buddies who get more than they bargained for after accepting a private invitation to a swanky party. David (played by Weiner himself), the socially awkward geek and self-proclaimed leader of the group, takes it upon himself to manage rush week for his friends, who include the out of shape, Justin (Zachery Byrd) and shy, Ethan (played by Phillip Andre Botello). After meeting with Ricky (Cameron Cowperthwaite), a suave young guy who belongs to a secret society of sorts, the trio are joined by two other pledges as the night takes a turn for the worse when an impromptu hazing session begins inside the four walls of the house. The film also stars Aaron Dalla Villa, Jesse Pimentel, Joe Gallagher, Jean-Louis Droulers and Erica Boozer.

THE GOOD

From the moment Pledge started, it immediately called to mind something like Tyler Shield’s “Final Girl”, a criminally underrated thriller from 2015 that followed a unique girl and her violent encounter with a group of sadistic teens who hunt and stalk for entertainment. Pledge’s content and setting are vastly different to the aforementioned and are perhaps more likely to draw comparisons to similar films set in the world of brotherhoods (even the film Brotherhood for that matter haha), still, I couldn’t help but feel that same sense of impending dread when it came to this one. It’s quite hard to believe that this is DP, William Babcock’s first time shooting a feature-length film. Weiner and Robbins could have easily resorted to just dulling the image, or washing it out completely in the hopes of pairing the films rather bleak content with matching visuals, but they didn’t. Pledge is a gorgeous looking film with superb framing, evident in the lingering drone shot that opens the film, slowly closing in on a young man whose running through corn fields like his life depends on it. The same sequence than transitions into some really smooth tracking shots and ultimately finishes on a brief but shocking beat. A majority of Pledge takes place in a gorgeous isolated home, making for an elegant backdrop to a subject matter that is anything but. There’s a lot of nice zooming and pulling back with the camera, as well as a few jib shots and some effective slow motion. The audio track is clean and the sound design is aptly built around bass and discordant noises. Jon Natchez’s fusion synth score deserves plenty of attention too, especially that opening track. It’s 80’s in nature but suspenseful, consisting of more dramatic tones rather than just pure energetic electro/pop for the sake of it.

Zack approaches the material with a level of maturity well beyond his years. Nothing feels contrived, as he’s seemingly always got one foot firmly planted on emphasising the mentality of the alpha male and the dangers of conformity. The combination of Robbins directing and Nik Voyta’s edit, help to authentically encapsulate pack mentality and it makes for destructive viewing in the best way possible. Pledge is very well acted right across the board. Our protagonists all possess different qualities that make them either relatable or likeable, sometimes even both. Weiner’s got smart comedic timing and you can’t help but feel bad for David during his desperate times. As for Byrd, playing Justin. We all know someone like that, he’s the level-headed friend whose easy to root for when the going gets tough. I was trying to work out how I knew Phillip Botello and eventually I realized it was from the recent indie horror, “Minutes To Midnight”. While I didn’t care all that much for the film, his performance was a good one, as it is again here. Ethan’s that guy that’s almost one of the click but not quite. There’s a separation preventing unification and no one really knows why. On the other end of the spectrum we’ve got kingpin Max (Dalla Villa), a young socialite with a sadistic persona who ultimately leads the charge when it comes to the fun and games. It’s a controlled, less is more style of portrayal that works perfectly for the character. Second in command is Ricky. Boy does Cameron bear a striking resemblance to IT actor, Bill Skarsgard, wow. I liked a few of his specific traits and the overall direction of the arc. The duo’s muscle comes in the form of the overly eager, Bret (Pimentel), who happens to look a hell of a lot like American Horror Story’s, Cheyenne Jackson. The script has some nice surprises, such as not revealing certain motives as early as one might expect. That and the character of Ben (Gallagher) makes for an interesting inclusion. Pledge is unapologetic and fast paced at just 76 minutes, that and it pulls no punches with its darkly violent finish. And when I say dark, I mean dark…

THE BAD

If we’re being particular, one might question why this seemingly smart group of three fail to even ask the most basic of questions when it comes to the fraternity and its essentials. I guess we’re supposed to believe these young men are rather naive, which is fair enough, but if a beautiful girl invited me to a private gathering (looking the average sort I do), I’d be a little suspect, yet no one raises an eyebrow even for a second. The idea behind the concept of a fraternity has never made much sense to me, nor does it appear to hold much weight. I know I’m foreign and we don’t have those factions here but what values are they supposed to instill in you that can’t be attained by other means? All you tend to hear about is the degrading nature of the bullying which comes in both physical and psychological forms. I’m a non drinker and I’m not a “guys” guy either so that’s probably me out (haha). The only other specific of Pledge that could’ve been handled a little better was the twist of events. The reveal is plausible enough but perhaps dueling storylines might have cleared some things up, or at the very least Weiner could’ve thrown in a few extra clues along the way.

Zack Weiner and Daniel Robbins Indie/Thriller “Pledge” is a film that I’ve been hearing a lot about over the last couple of months, and with good reason. With shades of “The Skulls” and the previously mentioned “Final Girl” about it, and a visceral gut punch finish akin to Jeremy Saulnier’s “Green Room”, Pledge is a masterclass of gritty independent cinema. Babcock’s exquisite cinematography complements the surface value appeal in the world of these young men, Natchez’s synth driving soundtrack works wonders and the sound design is tension filled. Zack’s writing is strong, the acting even better, and given the juvenile characters that occupy the landscape, that’s a difficult balancing act. The pacing is great, and while the violence is limited, it’s still ruthless. The freshmen’s lack of ability to think for themselves remains the catalyst in setting these events in motion and that might frustrate viewers, given that outwardly they look to be more switched on than most. The twist could’ve been further explored, but in the end it doesn’t take much away from what is sure to go down as one of the best independent films of 2018. Pledge is fantastic and I urge you to check out the trailer below and keep an eye out for the film soon!

My rating for “Pledge” is 8.5/10

THE SETUP

Firstly, I’d just like to thank Kate at October Coast PR, as well as Hewes Pictures for sending me a screener to their new Horror Anthology titled, “Blood Clots”. Blood Clots is a collection of seven horror themed short films from Australia, Canada, The UK and The United States. I’m going to give a quick summary and rating of each short, followed by an overall rating for the entire anthology.

CLOT 1- HELL OF A DAY

Hell Of A Day is a 13 minute short from Australia, Written and Directed by Evan Hughes and starring Alexandra Octavia. Octavia plays a mystery woman who ends up stuck in a pub while trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Trent Schneider’s high quality cinematography is a big part of what drives Hughes atmospheric country setting. The framing is wonderful and the shot choices are varied, made up of aerials, slow pans and close-ups. The basement makes for a great location for the climax, that and the pub itself is laced with plenty of smoke/fog to create a dire mood. Mark Farrow’s sound design is incredibly sharp and there’s a nice bass and drum orientated score from Erin McKimm too. The other selling point of the short is some of its impressive practical blood and gore fx. There’s very little on-screen action but the aftermath shots are more than serviceable. On the downside, there could have been some more attention to detail with some of the extras zombie makeup. Alexandra’s acting feels a little restrained in places and I got frustrated with her lack of urgency about finding a weapon or something to defend herself with. Small gripes aside, Hell Of A Day is a really good homegrown zombie short.

My rating is 8/10

CLOT 2- NEVER TEAR US APART

Never Tear Us Apart is a 7 minute Canadian made Horror/Comedy short, Co-Written by Chris Bavota and Sid Zanforlin (who also directs). It sees two friends, James and Colin (played respectively by Matt Keyes and Alex Weiner) encounter a couple of backwoods cannibals while searching for James’s long-lost relatives. The film also stars James Rae and Leigh Ann Taylor. I thought this film looked familiar as it played out, and then it dawned on me that I remember seeing this 2015 short film a couple of years ago. The comedic tones started coming back to me as James and Colin showcased their natural dynamics. Again, the cinematography and editing here are really crisp. The chase sequence makes for one of the best scenes and all of the color grading looks consistent. It’s very well acted, and more importantly both the characters are likeable, in turn making Keyes and Weiner a funnier duo. There’s a nice on-screen kill in the beginning and a rather impressive practical decapitation that only sees a minimal use of CG. The only lame aspect of Never Tear Us Apart is the “scream” stock sound playing over the title credits because we’ve heard that a hundred times before. Sid and Chris have got a darkly funny but horrific little short in Never Tear Us Apart and I suggest everyone check this one out.

My rating is 9/10

CLOT 3- BLUE MOON

Blue Moon is 12 minute English Horror short, Written by Airell Anthony Hayles and Directed by Martyn Pick. Three teens are out to lose their virginity at a dogging site in the woods but encounter a gang of werewolves and are forced to fight for their lives. The film stars Madalina Bellariu Ion, Adrian Annis, Brian Hanford and Katherine Rodden. IMDB’s plot synopsis of Blue Moon is a little confusing and the pacing isn’t great. For one, the central character is a seedy middle-aged man with a handheld camera whose attempting to exploit a gorgeous young woman named, Nicoletta (played by Ion). So I don’t remember seeing any teenage boys and I don’t re-call anything about the loss of virginity. Anywho, the films setting in a public place where people have sex is a rather odd, albeit unique choice. There’s some nice gentle tracking shots through the tops of trees in the beginning but a majority of the content is presented via live camera or the handheld approach. The acting is servicable and Madalina is absolutely stunning. Most of the action takes place off-screen but the aftermath of the blood and gore fx look cool. In regard to the werewolf, it appears to be a practical suit, which is always a tick in my column. All of my issues with Blue Moon are technical related ones. The dialogue audio is a little low in the mix and I’m certainly not a fan of the shaky cam stuff on display as the situation escalated. John Fensom’s rapid editing to depict the transformation from human to wolf doesn’t quite compute either. I understand that element is probably down to time and budget constraints though. You do all you can do I guess.

My rating for “Blue Moon” is 6.5/10

CLOT 4- TIME TO EAT

Time To Eat is a 4 minute Horror short, Written and Directed by Luke Guidici. A mischievous young boy, Xavier (played by Ethan Michael Mora) discovers a monstrous revelation after he follows his bouncing ball down into the basement. The film also stars Ydaiber Orozco. Time To Eat is a blink and you’ll miss it type of deal that pays homage to the likes of H.P Lovecraft and even Roger Corman. The standout feature of this quickie has to be Nathaniel Smith’s fantastic quirky score, reminiscent of some of Tim Burton’s previous collaborations with renowned composer, Danny Elfman. The camera work and framing are both very good and there’s yet another atmospheric basement put to good use. A handful of POV (point of view) shots create a little mystery during the closing stages and the creature aspect, albeit mostly CG in nature, still works well. The only part of the film that makes very little sense is the boys trepidation with entering the basement in the first place, ultimately made null and void.

My rating for “Time To Eat” is 9/10

CLOT 5- STILL

Still is a 7 minute Horror/Comedy short, Written and Directed by Carl Timms. This English-made short continues the theme of the zombie apocalypse, picking up with a living statue street performer (played by Joe Capella) caught in the middle of an outbreak in Golden Square. He must stay perfectly still and conceive a plan of escape if he wants to survive. What I like most about Still is Timms fun premise, that and the different take on situational comedy which can work well in the confines of the zombie sub-genre. DP, Alan Tisch sets up the film with some great opening shots of the big attack sequence in the middle of the square, there’s also a handful of nice macro shots as things roll on. Matthew Steed’s fusion based score really complements the situation nicely and Capella’s narration puts a fresh spin on the delivery of the material. Good practical blood spray gives the horror fans something to indulge in as well. There’s a couple of brief black and white flashback shots that aren’t necessary and the films closing shot calls into question the continuity (when you look at the direction the crowd approaches our statue man from). Still, still is good stuff.

My rating for “Still” is 8/10

CLOT 6- HELLYFISH

Hellyfish is a 12 minute Sci-Fi/Creature Feature short Co-Written by Kate Fitzpatrick and Patrick Longstreth (who also co-directed). Hellyfish centres around a missing nuclear weapon that’s currently leaking radioactive waste into the ocean just off of the coast of Tybee Island, GA. A devastating Jellyfish attack is about to hit a group of unfortunate beach-goers whose day of fun in the sun quickly turns to a nightmare. I actually reviewed this particular short film here at AdamTheMovieGod several years back and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hellyfish has some crisp clear audio, along with some impressive camera work and editing. The digital effects work is quite ambitious and the end result is actually a pretty good one. The mother of all showdowns during the climax reminds me of films like “Frankenfish” and “Boar”. There’s a couple of cute girls in here and each character has their moment in the sun (so to speak). I noticed a few focus issues and some of the depth of field stuff is a little off. Despite the sizeable chunks of action in such a short run time, there’s no actual practical blood and gore which might disappoint some. It would’ve made for a nice addition. Even with its shortcomings, Hellyfish is one of the most entertaining creature feature shorts going around.

My rating for “Hellyfish” is 8/10

CLOT 7- CALL OF CHARLIE

Call Of Charlie is a 14 minute Horror/Comedy/Drama short Co-Written by Guy Benoit, John Simpson and Nick Spooner (who also directs) and it rounds out the Blood Clots anthology. The film sees a new age Los Angeles couple (played by Brooke Smith and Harry Sinclair) fix up Charlie (Sven Holmberg), an Ancient Evil from beneath the sea, on a blind date. The film also stars Evan Arnold, Roberta Valderrama, Kristin Slaysmith and Bradley Bundlie. Like the rest of the anthology, the technical facets here are all high quality. DP, Adam Santelli has worked on “Fear The Walking Dead” and his ability to frame well and shoot crisply shows that he’s more than capable. The audio track is nice and loud and Michael Cudahy’s lively offbeat score complements the bizarre nature of this particular entry. It’s well acted and the monster design is completely practical, it looks superb on camera. I can’t help but notice that something’s a miss when only one of your dinner guests thinks it’s weird you invited a sea creature to the party. I actually wanted to know more about Smith and Sinclair’s characters and how this “relationship” (for lack of  a better word) with Charlie came to be. The pacing does linger in places so this one might be a little to out there for some but I still found it to be quite a fun watch.

My rating for “Call Of Charlie” is 7.5/10

Blood Clots is a very impressive horror anthology from a number of really talented individuals, perhaps even one of the best of its kind since 2013’s, V/H/S 2. There’s no inferior products here due to a lot of really consistent technical application.”Hell Of A Day” brings some great atmosphere and is one of the best, “Never Tear Us Apart” has a cannibal edge but remains funny, Blue Moon is your after dark caper though probably the weakest, and “Time To Eat” gives of those essential evil child vibes that go hand in hand with the horror genre. Rounding out the film are a unique “Still”, which is probably the best premise of the bunch, and creature feature doubles, “Hellyfish” and “Call Of Charlie”, albeit tonally very different from one another, equally as enjoyable. There’s a bit of everything here for fans of horror and a number of its sub-genres. Blood Clots is now officially available for viewing on Vimeo and Amazon and please keep an eye out for it soon on VOD (video on demand)! Until then, you can check out the official trailer below.

My rating for “Blood Clots” is 8/10

TEENAGE SLUMBER PARTY NIGHTMARE

THE SETUP

This is a review for the RickMoe Productions Horror/Slasher film “Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare”, Written and Directed by Richard Mogg (Massage Parlor Of Death) https://adamthemoviegod.com/massage-parlor-of-death-review/. Teenage Slumber Party Nighmare picks up with four young high-schoolers who are about to start spring break. Jamie (played by the lovely Kaitlyn Yurkiw) and her friends, Marlo (Lauren Richardson), Trish (Hillary Kaplan) and Casey (Martha Staus) decide to have a slumber party of which will consist of booze, boys and bullshit…. uh sorry, girl talk. What the girls don’t know is that a deranged stalker wielding a power drill has been following them and intends on putting an end to all the fun. The film also stars Kirk Munaweera, Payton John Bonn and Kevin Paynter. I’ve long been a supporter of RickMoe Productions and what Mogg is attempting to create with his love of SOV (shot on video) film making. Regardless of the end result, Richard is an affable guy and there’s always plenty to be learnt from listening to him and his commentary on the DIY approach.

THE GOOD

I’ve never been one to deceive my readers so the first thing that you should know about a RickMoe Production is that it’s micro budget. When I say micro budget, I mean chump change. Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare was made with a budget of $100. Yes you heard that right, $100 dollars, which believe it or not is twice as much as he spent on his previous feature “Massage Parlor Of Death”. Mogg often works with the same people, makes his own cheap effects and utilizes his home for shooting. He prides himself on being able to create films on minimal time and money (a nod to some of those that came before him e.g Tim Ritter). The hand drawn poster art for Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare looks great, even if the film doesn’t boast that standard of blood and gore. On the technical side of things, the mostly handheld camera work is serviceable and I enjoyed some of the POV (point of view) shots, despite the rear window of the car being wound down when it would’ve made more sense for it to be the front passenger one instead. The natural audio track was much more pleasant on the ear drums this time around, less screaming and therefore less pitching. The acting is about what you’d expect from the relatively inexperienced bunch. Kaitlyn’s performance is the best of the bunch, that and she’s a cute girl too. RickMoe regular, Kirk Munaweera tries hard and the always funny Kevin Paynter makes a nice appearance as a New Yorker pizza delivery guy (even though it’s not New York haha). There are a handful of kills toward the end of the movie but the effects are home-made and consequently look very cheap. The film does have a speedy run time of just 75 minutes though.

THE BAD

Notwithstanding owning your own equipment, there’s always going to be technical inconsistencies when you’re attempting to make a film on $100. The very opening tripod shot highlights a dirty lens and unfortunately the sun wreaks havoc with a majority of the external shots throughout the rest of the film. Because Mogg doesn’t have a crew (probably due to the cost) he does everything himself and it makes it virtually impossible to block shots, so you end up with bright light piercing into the frame constantly. I’d like to see Richard shoot to avoid the sun more often. There’s a fairly long scene where the three girls are sitting on a porch and it could have easily been shot from the opposite direction and with more cuts so as to avoid the harshness of the sun. Some of the framing and zoom use is a little odd and unintentionally leads the film down the found footage trail, which I’m sure wasn’t the intention at all. Richard does like to shoot handheld and I can respect that simple approach, after all, it was a cornerstone of the shot on video days, but it does however limit variety and the image can become stale. The fight choreography is really quite poor. Perhaps it was intended to be comical, though it would seem out of sorts for a film that is ultimately supposed to be serious. Rob Rochon opts for some high frequency synth notes in the score but they don’t really accomplish much, and the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” inspired, grandpa mask the killer wears isn’t great either. Some of the actors are guilty of looking into the lens on occasion (whether it be intentional or not) and I can’t ignore the fact that Richard cast Munaweera as a high school student…. the guy’s like 40, not even I can let that one slide. Perhaps an alternative might have been to make him a jealous janitor or groundskeeper? Let’s not even mention his complete lack of stalking skills.

The two most problematic aspects of Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare are the films pacing and the character of Marlo. There’s a lot going on here that doesn’t make any sense, but that would be at least somewhat forgivable if not for the complete slog you’ve got to endure to get to some pretty scarce action on display in the last ten minutes. It takes exactly an hour to get to any of the good stuff, unless you include two characters whose deaths occur from falling from a height. After having watched the behind the scenes featurette on the Blu Ray, I discovered that Mogg had a different design for this latest film, approaching it with more of a coming of age story in mind. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s what audiences are looking for when they hear the title Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare. In hindsight, that marketing may have been a little misleading. This is an extremely talky film that consists of long-winded conversations of little substance. With weak dialogue and time lapses to further stretch out a never-ending game of “quarters”, the film can be summarised as having pacing issues. Clear continuity flaws exist, such as the girls attempting to tan but none of them are wearing bikini’s, Mogg’s recognizable pink phone isn’t connected when it rings and the killer’s power drill has a chord that we never see him plug-in (haha). These are all silly things that you’d expect were done purposely but they’re still issues all the same. It’s also daylight for a really long time in this film, in fact there’s no night-time shots at all. If the characters offered up something more or we didn’t have to listen to Marlo seemingly stoned it would have made for easier viewing. I don’t want to resort to picking on actress, Lauren Richardson, whom I was critical of in Mogg’s most recent film “Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend”, because I’m sure she was playing the character how it was written, but it begs the question as to why she seemed like she was equal parts high and drunk. Now I know there was real beer on the set, but still. Marlo’s constantly going on about “the best spring break ever”, clearly she’s set the bar low if the groups idea of that is some hot dogs, beer, dancing and a game of quarters… oh how times have changed. Marlo just happened to be a cringe inducing character that I wanted to die in the beginning, but alas.

Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare is a throwback to similar micro-budget slasher films of the 80’s and even recent entries like Steve Rudzinski’s, “Everyone Must Die” and Drew Barnhardt’s, “Blood Cabin”. This is the fourth film I’ve watched from RickMoe Productions and unfortunately it’s probably the weakest of the bunch. I love the artwork, the POV shots were good, the clear audio is among the best of the technical facets and Kaitlyn Yurkiw is lovely and enjoyable to watch. Although the run time is short, the bulk of the film feels like a chore. A lot of the lighting is harsh, the zooming is a parameter of found footage camera work, the creative elements are disappointing and the film might have benefited from Munaweera playing a character his age rather than a student. While I can partially forgive some of the stupid continuity gripes, the sluggish pacing and minimal action both ultimately hurt the film. I’m not too sure what was going on with Richardson’s character, Marlo but she drove me insane. In turn, the perplexed delivery throws off the whole performance. I can respect Richard opting for a more mature process in regard to the coming of age story, but I think the slasher content really suffers and it’s probably likely to turn its target audience off. I enjoyed the behind the scenes learnings from Richard more than I did the actual film, and although I’d like to recommend this one I just don’t think there’s enough good here to warrant 75 minutes of your time. That said, if you’re a sucker for micro-budget horror or you’re a budding film maker you might find something more in it than I did. You can check out the official trailer below!

My rating for “Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare” is 2.5/10