Three outcast teenagers break into the Vallisca axe murder house in search of answers, but discover something far beyond their worst fears.
Director: Tony E. Valenzuela; Writers: Kevin Abrams (story), Owen Egerton; Stars: Robert Adamson, Jarrett Sleeper, Alex Frnka, Sean Whalen
On a June night in 1912, eight people -- a mother, father, their four children, and two guests -- were murdered by an axe-wielding killer in the sleepy town of Villisca, Iowa. A case that remains unsolved to this day. More than a century later, Caleb and Denny, two friends who share an interest in ghost hunting, along with Jess -- the new girl in school who already has a reputation -- sneak into the house where the infamous bloodbath occurred in hopes of recording paranormal activity.
In horror films, amateur ghost hunting always equals a bad experience. Take Grave Encounters and the Blair Witch for example. As amateur ghost hunters ourselves, my wife and I are glad this doesn't hold true in real life. Although, thanks to these films, we are prepared for the day that is does. Not that it will do us any good. Tony E. Valenzuela directs a fantastic example of such a ghost story with found footage elements but without all the annoying tropes of the previously mentioned films. The primary difference between Valenzuela's work and most others is he chose to use the true historical facts related to the Vallisca Axe Murders and fictionalized the characters being haunted and the haunting itself, while working with the claims that the real house truly is haunted, wrapping it all up into a little bow with a tie in from reality that he claims had nothing to do with the movie, although cleverly looks like it does. It is this manipulation of fact and fiction that I applaud more than anything else while watching The Axe Murders of Vallisca.
Meanwhile the film making is classic 80's with much better acting than the usual for indepndent films of this nature. Of course IFC Midnight has been good at not putting their name on films that fail drastically in convincing the suspension of disbelief. It also helps The Axe Murders of Vallisca has a lot of familiar faces... Conchata Ferrell, Brett Rickaby, with special recognition to Jon Gries for his unamused tour guide and Sean Whalen is an excellent ax murderer with crazed bloody frenzy. Our lead cast is great too, Robert Adamson, Jarrett Sleeper, and Alex Frnka are great albeit rarely subdued. Still, is each characters subplot important enough to the overall plot and believable. Caleb's (Adamson) seems to be the least believable back story. But in the end he must seek absolution. Denny's (Sleeper) seems more reasonable, as does Jess's (Frnka) if not over played. In the end the goal is to bring together misfits and put them through the ringer so that they come out better than they went in. If they come out at all. Especially the bullys.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Though the real Vallisca Axe Murders are unsolved, the film sides with a theory that the murders were committed by Reverend Kelly on a mission from god because the wife was an adulteress. Also looks like older sis is too which ties directly to Jess's indiscretion. In fact everyone's sins are eventually put on trial to mixed results. Demonic possession is a must but the kids in costumes seem to be more for dramatic, creepy effect, doing what they do best by appearing sinister but are really just harbingers.
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