First, this movie is not remake or reboot, and contains no connection to director Jay Woelfel’s movie of the same name released in 2009. In the land of low budget horror films, exists both the rotting corpses and those filled with ambition sometimes a tad too much but director and writer Ari Kirschenbaum (Fabled [2002]) presents the viewers with a flick filled of good versus evil, Tony Todd and all types of effects. A few might recall the buzz words associated with the movie, such as Ghostbusters meeting Dawn of the Dead, which often cause one to remember those movies and transfer that enjoyment to this feature hoping more of the same. It does not exactly achieve that level of promise, but mixes black humor and horror achieving some pleasurable entertainment for the low budgeted fans.

 

It’s Halloween, (a tad cliché start) everyone from townsfolk to the local police department tired to the tricks and no time for anymore treats, but soon this turn increasingly more sinister for Deputy Hancock (Charlene Amoia) who’s about to face something none of her previous training ever prepared her to deal with in any manner. The film really started with a supernatural force, which controls people’s minds starting in a small college town but what makes the transition for good to evil, is using technique from the film Pleasantville (1998), where its black and white before a significant change and herein it’s the consumption of goodness turning evil. The demonic force makes people see both their worst fears and lusts imagining strange images, sadly nothing too sick and twisted. In addition, the dead long since buried rise from their graves, some not rotting well, and yet all with glowing green eyes. One must admit that the storyline itself not well sounded, a bit jumbled at times, and contains plot holes, however most of the horror audience came for Tony Todd’s (Bleeding Hearts [2015]) appearance. He shows in the second half of the film as The Pastor who deals with the undead in heroic fashion, but from The Walking Dead fame, Vincent Ward battles the evil in a prison cell. Hancock aided by her Sheriff Pete (Vladimir Kulich) and the Feds all trying to stop the demons and psychic attacks.

 

A simple rule in filmmaking, tell a story in the straightest line possible, if the personnel and budget afford it then expand, but keep the pacing tight. The zombies with green glowing eyes (better than The Burning Dead aka Volcano Zombies), different yes, but necessary, depending on one’s viewpoint whether you ideally seek CGI or practical effects, it all adds for a vast mix of results yes you have a lot of blood, it’s treated more as an after effect than a gore-hound paradise. As for the script, it’s a standard delivery, the dialogue isn’t going to win any awards, but is enough for the entertainment value of this type of production.

 

Overall the movie was visually entertaining with creepy practical makeup effects, dedicated fans adore blood-soaked comedic piece. Never truly scary or a hint of serious horror, rather numerous concepts pushed into one film to please the fans of low budgeted horror and a one-time viewing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3063072/

IMDb Rating: 3.6/10

Baron’s Rating: 3.5/10