Review: The Faith Community

Review: The Faith Community

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

Gore and scares everyone! For my review this time I’m going once again into the intriguing sub-genre of found footage films with the first film from filmmaker Faith R Johnson, The Faith Community.

The Faith Community tells the tale of three young documentary filmmakers who go to a supposed religious get away to film a promotional video. When they get to the location they are greeted by The Messenger (played by Jeremey Harris) and his “flock.” Soon the three filmmakers find that things are not as they expected. For one thing on their way to the “getaway” they are lead past a number of wooden crosses set to the side of the trail. Then when they get to the getaway instead of finding cabins and facilities they are met with a bunch of tents and folding chairs. When they question this The Messenger simply tells them that they are living simple to get closer to God by getting closer to nature. After that things get disturbing. The camera person, Colin (played by Jeffrey Brabant), interviews The Messenger, but is unable to get his name, the leader insists that The Messenger is his only name. Then Colin interviews one of the members named Michael who turns out to be a former soldier who was thrown out of the army for killing an officer because he was having delusions of seeing a dark, demonic, shape. Then after having a meal with the group Colin finds his associates acting odd. Are they drugged? Of course it is after the after meal entertainment that things unfold and becomes deadly. Their hosts are not a simple religious group, but a twisted cult whose focus is to find those who are worthy. Will Colin and his friends escape this cult or will they become its latest victims.

Though I’m not a huge fan of found footage films, there are some that break the mold of the simple cookie cutter plots and stereotypical faults of this sub-genre. I find this to be one. For one thing there wasn’t the typical introduction expressing that this is actual footage found hidden in the woods. Nope, Johnson forgets those trappings and lets the footage speak for itself. Also, she adds to the fake realism by not even having the camera operator keep the camera level. There are several shots that are of people’s feet and several shot where the camera is trying to auto adjust and all we see is flared and barely intelligible images. Also, there is no attempt at making this film over dramatic or Hollywoodish. This film is as rough as it gets and does look like someone with little camera skills was shooting true events. The unfortunate drawback to this is the film loses a lot of its impact by being too far away from the main action, much like a person at a concert trying to film the action with their camera phone.

So, in the end I found The Faith Community a disturbing look at the very real horror of the extreme religious cults that have popped up in the world. This film is a cautionary tale that warns you to look closer into any religious retreats, because they might not be what you expect….

Keep on Creepin’ Horror Bob’s Blog

Review: Talon Falls

Review: Talon Falls

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

Gore and scares everybody. I’m back yet again with another movie review on a new film either on DVD or VOD. This time it the new film in the subgenre torture porn, Talon Falls.

This film tells the story of a group of four teenagers who decide to check out an extreme Halloween attraction located in the Kentucky woods. The attraction, The Talon Falls Screamland, features the usual jump scares, killer clowns, and chainsaw welding psychopaths. But it also features sections that feature people being horribly tortured, and these look unsettlingly real. Well, when two of the group decide to slip in behind the scenes they find out the horrifying truth, that the torture scenes are exactly what they appear to be, very real. Now, they have been chosen to be the next featured attractions and now they must find a way to get free before they become part of the fun.

I have to say, besides the recent SAW film I haven’t seen any torture porn films in years. This was never really a favorite with me. Honestly I have to say that besides the SAW franchise, with its complicated plot, I’ve found torture porn films very cookie cutter and not very interesting. This film on the other hand I found a tad more interesting. I liked how they took the idea of an extreme Halloween attraction  and took it to this extreme level. It is one reason I avoid such things like the plague. I fear that one day I will hear on the news that one of these operators might do exactly the same thing this story tells.

As for the acting, writing, and film technique, there was nothing special. Even the twist at the end was actually telegraphed and was expected.

So, if you are a fan of torture porn films and films like The Houses that October Built you will definitely like this film. If you are every other horror fan I would grab yourself a twelve pack, then it will be a party….LOL… Oh, also they could have done a bit better with the title. Talon Falls brings to mind a creepy town film or a murder mystery. I think if they had titled it Talon Falls Murderland or something more descriptive of what the film actually is it would have been better, but that’s just me….

Keep on Creepin’, Horror Bob’s Blog….

Review: Found Footage 3D

Review: Found Footage 3D

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

Gore and Scares everybody, this time I’m reviewing the new found footage film by filmmaker Steven Degennaro, Found Footage 3D.

This film tells the story of Derek and his film crew who are planning to film their own found footage film in a cabin in an isolated wooded area. Derek, who is the producer, surprises his director with his latest great idea. They are going to shoot their found footage film in 3D. The director isn’t thrilled with the idea, given that it is a found footage film and the idea breaks the illusion that this is “found footage,” but in the end Derek convinces him. On the way to the location they stop at a store to get food and end up asking a couple of old rednecks to be the creepy warning givers for the film. After the rednecks do their parts they ask where the crew is shooting. When they are told they give the crew a real warning. After that in true horror fashion the crew goes to the cabin and their found footage shoot becomes a real life horror as a mysterious force, like the one in the story they are shooting, starts causing chaos with the shooting and takes them out one at a time.

I have to say I found this film amusing. I’m actually a fan of this subgenre and I loved how they played around with the stereotypical hallmarks of the typical found footage film. There is one sequence where they have to do a surveillance footage shot. The director reminds Derek that that footage won’t be in 3D like the other footage. Derek fixes the problem by taping two cameras together. Also, there is a sequence where they are doing a POV running scene and Derek complains about the fact that the “shaky cam” is going to make the audience sick in 3D. The director tells him that there is nothing that can be done because the camera is in the hand of the girl who is running. Derek straps a shoulder harness on the girl and hooks to camera to it to lessen the shaking. The director argues that it won’t look real, because the girl in the story wouldn’t have a harness. Derek reminds him that it isn’t reality and they are going to do it his way. The director huffs off complaining that he has no control and why does Derek need a director at all since everything is done “his way.”

There is one thing that really messes with the film for me. The thing is they never really make a clear separation between the scenes shot for the film they are making in the movie the characters are filming and the footage “behind the scenes.” There are times that it gets a bit confusing at times which is kind of distracting. But all in all, if you are a fan of found footage films, Found Footage 3D will be and an amusing time for you, no booze required….

Keep on Creepin’, Horror Bob’s Blog….