Earlier this year 2019, a movie called Shed of the Dead, had a lot of fans eager to see it, however, it led to mixed results as it’s more comedy than straight-up horror, that is not the case with The Shed from screenwriter and director Frank Sabatella (Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet [2009]) who designed his newest creation from 1980s horror films, and combining the folklores of vampires and werewolves, fret not it definitely isn’t a Twilight entry. Thank goodness! Rather his film explores themes of high school bullying, abuse and reflectance from guardians and authorities. However, Frank makes sure to include some violence, gore and limits the shock value, aided by production company A Bigger Boat (Jigsaw [2017]) and The Ward [2010] along with Sideshow Pictures receiving distribution from RLJE Films.
The opening sequence works very well (shot nicely too) with nearby neighbor Bane (Frank Whaley (Cold Moon [2016])) chased by creature of the night and Stan experiencing nightmares to hook and the audience. Stan (Jay Jay Warren (Day of Reckoning [2016])), a high school student with a sad past, is bullied, before, during and even after school and ignored by the Roxy (Sofia Happonen) he loves, living with his abusive grandfather Ellis Timothy Bottoms (Parasomnia [2008]). His only friend Dommer (Cody Kostro) is more humiliated and further beaten than Stan, it might be perceived to some as an over-the-top display but it’s actually far more common, that both guardians and authorities overlook or ignore, this theme foreshadows events to arise in the second and third act. After Stan’s first violent incident with the upright standing beast of incredible strength, he realizes its hiding spot and fearful of the police, he merely seeks to destroy it, upon learning that sunlight burns it. Stan survives his first violent encounter with the creature and locks it in the shed, marking the territory as a prison, and it brings rage, madness from all parties, but most dangerously the beast which viewers have yet to see clearly. He’d call the police, after some issues, but who would believe him. However things spiral quickly out of control with fights at school and Sherriff Dorney (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) becoming curious, Stan knows he must destroy it. Shockingly (not) his buddy Dommer insists on a different reckless path name (and you guess it) he wants destruction of at least one of his vicious bullies Marble (Chris Petrovski (All Cheerleaders Die [2013])) more than other too Pitt and Ozzy. The third act contains quite a bit of violence and action, which makes for an enjoyable finish but opens the door to further storytelling if warranted.
Sabatella, makes wonderful usage of the central location in the movie, the showing of The Shed, the wide open territory, and confines work as a hot box and tomb from the beast for those unfortunate to enter his domain. The performances from the actors work nicely together, Marble shows a dedicated hateful manner to Stan and his friend, the true authoritative prowler to his clan. One excellent point, the filmmakers did, was keeping the monsters limited from the audience’s view, this again taking a page from Jaws (1975), hide the beast, make the viewer use their energy and mind to create the impending doom, this case whatever they choose doesn’t harm one’s overall concept and budgetary limitations or advantages. A small error, perhaps nitpicking, which occurs when boarding up the house, in the style of The Birds (1963) or Night of the Living Dead (1968), there’s the mistake of no wood covering over the large front door window, unsure how someone misses that detail, they merely place a chair as a brace.
I found The Shed enjoyable, it reminded me of Fright Night (1985) in minor moments, the characters were similar, though it doesn’t contain any of the comedic lines that film did, rather giving a straightforward horror movie, limited jump scares and more tension building, mainly when the bullied ones turned the tables on their abusers, Of course as common in horror movies, some characters do make some silly mistakes after all, who else is going to meet the blood-hungry monster, everyone and everything needs to feed on something, therefore perhaps you should order at least one viewing of this creature feature.
TAGLINES:
- Don’t go there.
- Rage cannot be contained.
- What happens in the dark will always come to light.
- Beware the evil within.
http://www.cinemamanagementgroup.com/film/the-shed/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8236366/
IMDb Rating: 4.0/10
Baron’s Rating: 4.0/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3T_1qYbj58