This movie pays homage to horror movies from the past. Though it's not entirely sure which decade it really is looking up to (70s or 80s, which is something the trailer also mixes up when it compares it to some of the films back then). But being slithery to a point one can not pin you down to something specific, does not mean it's something bad. But if you copy something from the past, try to distill the best from it.Budget wasn't that high I reckon (I saw 40.000 as a number somewhere, not sure if that's true), but the movie has a lot of issues. The location isn't one of them. The framing and the cinematography on the other hand combined with the lack (or absence) of acting ... That's something you feel. The effects are decent ... by 70s standards. Same tricks from back then are being used, maybe even the 60s. Not a selling point either. And the ending is rather predictable ... or if you're nice, is being pointed out throughout the whole film. And how many times can one mask be used for jump scares? Way more than one too many in this one ...
... View MoreScream Park Directed by Cary Hill Written by Cary Hill Starring Doug Bradley, Wendy Wygant, Steve Rudzinski, and Nivek Ogre Distributed by WildEye Releasing Running time 85 minutesFright Land is closing, seems no one wants to spend their time, let alone their money at the aging amusement park anymore. The staff of the beleaguered park have agreed to send off the place with a bang, planning on partying the night away on the closing eve. As soon as the gates lock, the bodies begin piling up. Right from the get go with this one I was thinking "Fun House", classic 80s cult carnival slasher film, but the film showed itself to be more than I expected. It features an interesting cast of characters with Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Nivek Ogre (band Skinny Puppy, Repo: The Genetic Opera) along side relative new comer Wendy Wygant (Jennifer) and slightly more seasoned actor Steve Rudzinski. Nivek and Bradley obviously help pull an audience to this one right away, just the two of them are worth the price of admission (or DVD purchase) alone. Bradley, and Nivek both turn in strong performances that you would expect, but the rest of the players do admirably also. Granted its filled mainly with lesser known's they put up a decent show, albeit a little flat on occasion.One thing I was particularly pleased with in the film was that they were able to offer a nice twist in what felt like a very familiar story line, that really made the Scream Park itself feel more tangible. It added an unexpected level of interest and believably to a genre that can sometimes feel a bit lack luster in storytelling. It was one of several really smart choices that help this film stand out in the crowd.Scream Park will have a strong appeal with many fans. It offers a nice body count, some fun slasher moments, and a nice visual homage to the films many of us watched in the day that grew the genre into what it is now . Add that to a cast that would make any first time director the envy of any set and you have a film that delivers just what you expect going in... A bit of of the yummy goodness we love in slashers, blood, boobs,tension and just an all around good time! Its another example of why Wild Eye Releasing is developing a nice following of fans. They distribute films we enjoy watching, not just once but time and time again! *HeatherOmen* TheHorrorNation.net
... View MoreUnscrupulous amusement park owner Mr. Hyde (a brief, but excellent and energetic performance by Doug Bradley; Pinhead in the "Hellraiser" films) concocts a devious and dangerous plan to prevent his floundering business from going under: He hires a couple of vicious backwoods psychopaths to break into the park after it closes and bump off the various employees under the assumption that the resultant media coverage of the tragic event will spark a resurgence of public interest in the place.This nifty throwback to simple and straightforward 80's body count horror cinema works really well thanks to its likable sincerity and refreshing dearth of any annoyingly hip and affected post-modern self-awareness: Writer/director Cary Hill takes time to flesh out the characters a bit before they start to get slaughtered, makes neat use of the rundown central location (an actual amusement park in Pennsylvania), affectionately captures the engaging earnest sensibility of 80's knifekill fare, generates a good deal of tension and spooky atmosphere, and stages the murder set pieces with flair. Moreover, Hill delivers a satisfying smattering of gore as well as one yummy pair of big bare boobs. The decent acting by the competent no-name cast rates as another major asset: Wendy Wygant as the sweet and appealing Jennifer, Steve Rudzinski as uptight nerd manager Marty, Nicole Beattie as snippy and sarcastic Goth bitch Missi, Dean Jacobs as the amiable Tony, Kailey Marie Harris as the enticing Carlee, Tyler Kale as awkward dweeb Rhodie, and Alicia Marie Marcucci as the perky Allison. Moreover, the two guys who play the bloodthirsty wackos kick this picture's quality up a few extra notches: Ian Lemmon cuts a fearsome figure with his hulking physique as the burly Ogre while Skinny Puppy's Nivek Ogre brings a winning surplus of delightfully bonkers go-for-broke gusto and a wickedly funny sense of pitch-black gallows humor to his juicy role as merry wisecracking lunatic Iggy. Nathan W. Fullerton's crisp cinematography provides a pleasing sharp look. The spirited shivery score hits the shuddery ooga-booga spot. Fans of old school slice'n'dice flicks should get a huge kick out of this baby.
... View MoreIf you can believe it. This movie was filmed on a budget of $40,000 raised through kickstarter. Donations were mostly made by friends and family members in the same way you buy a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies from your friend's daughter. With kickstarter, this sense of "social guilt" was somehow thick enough to raise quite a bite of money--too bad it was all squandered.This movie isn't worth reviewing. The other IMDb review, although overwhelmingly negative, was much too long and almost gives the film legitimacy. It makes the mistake of giving this hastily put together "film school thing" credit as a film.It's not a movie; it barely has a plot, the acting is terrible, it's not scary, it's not gory, the special effects are almost nonexistent, the sound and lighting are not even intentionally managed, and there is no cinematography. Most of all, and to summarize, there's simply no point. Cary wasted 40,000 dollars on...something? I can't tell where it went.
... View More