Children of Sorrow (2014) Review Revisited

Facebook, Wiki

“A young woman embeds herself in a cult looking for answers to her sister's disappearance, only to find a dark secret within the cult and an even darker secret within herself.” (IMDB)

Director: Jourdan McClure; Writers: Ryan Finnerty, Jourdan McClure; Stars: Bill Oberst Jr., Hannah Levien, Whitney Nielsen, et. al.; Released by: AfterDark Originals, LionsGate

I am Bill Oberst Jr.'s favorite, and he loves me. O.K., so it was actually the notorious cult leader Simon Leach who said it, from my TV screen, but that doesn't make any less real! I almost have my bags packed for Mexico. By the way, if you watch Children of Sorrow you will be his favorite too, and I'll see you there!

There have been many a movie to delve into the inner workings of cults, everything from the look at Manson's killer followers in Helter Skelter to today's Edgar Allan Poe quoting The Following TV series. Few have taken the first person approach of actually documenting the cult creation and growth like The Last Exorcist. But with all these movies about cults out there none have shown us the depth to which one person can go to make a group of susceptible minds feel wanted, loved, gain their trust, and ultimately abuse it, like Children of Sorrow. Jourdan and Ryan did their homework before putting this film together!

Of course the perfect twisted cult begins with a charismatic leader with enough brain power to concoct a pleasing experience for his flock. From his first appearance, Simon Leach is that man, he's done his research and knows what is expected of him and knows what he wants to get out of being their leader. Bill Oberst Jr. presents him to us with ease and the behind the scenes development is integral to to the story that is unfolding. This isn't his first rodeo, he has the clothes (earth tones because they are calming to the mind), the twisted sidekick (a very disturbing Mary), and the agenda. Obviously the next important factor to having a good/bad cult is faithful followers with weak enough minds to be brainwashed. Simon Leach acquires ten of these hapless souls, made up of an ensemble cast of convincing actors including the star of the side story, Australian born Levien as Ellen, who  believes she's there to infiltrate and find out what happened to her sister. Unfortunately her pessimism and desire for the truth may teach her a thing or two about her own lack of confidence.

Speaking of the story, I have heard the film described as a "slow burn" mostly because it takes awhile to get to the meat of the story. I'm one who would disagree since the meat is entirely dependent on the build up and McClure doesn't compromise by glossing over what makes Leach think he can control this group or leave out any of the proven techniques for turning any weak minded individual into your plaything. He does a great job showing the deterioration of a strong will through mind control, physical exhaustion, and acceptance. Which is really what the film is all about. Even the medium by which the story is told, found footage documentary from the cult leader's perspective, tells us this film is more about Leach's rise to power and what he does with it than anything else. That's why I see Ellen more as a side story than a major focus. This is not a bad thing, I like the fact that her issues interrupt Leach's plans from time to time without totally dominating the narrative.

To say that this isn't a film for everyone would be selling it short. Everyone who's ever thought a cult was a good idea, or does/doesn't  know much about the inner workings of cult behavior, should see this movie. It's a great companion piece to Helter Skelter and if you love Bill Oberst Jr. the way we do it's a pleasure to see him leading this fine cast through this disturbing tale that is probably closer to truth than fiction. Now back to my first statement above, I may not actually be his favorite, but let's keep in mind that he did profess his love for the Creepercast, and we will never let that go!

Til Next We Bleed,

J.P.

Ditch Day Massacre (2014) Review Revisited

"An independent film with a class A story and actors that rivals Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer."

“Jenny Bilson, a high school senior, is the perfect student, a wonderful daughter to a veteran police detective and an all American Dream. But the one mistake she is unaware of making is about to haunt her in a very violent way, as her past returns for revenge.” (IMDB)

Ditch Day Massacre is definitely an independent film, but it follows the pattern set by Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer so well that by the end you forget the other two existed. That's mostly because it takes you a step further than its predecessors by letting you get close to the primary antagonist to the point where you'll not only empathize with him, but hope he gets his revenge and maybe even redemption in the end. Of course he's also an insane methodical killer that happens to be played by the always amazing Bill Oberst Jr. If you only know Bill by the creatures he portrays on screen you'd think twice about how close you actually get to him. But that isn't all that's worth talking about in this film.

Ditch Day Massacre is the beloved cautionary tale about the indiscretions of your past coming back to bury an axe in your head. Our perfect girl's mistake was drinking and driving and the reason she initially got away with it was because her father was a cop. Bill Oberst Jr and his family just happened to be in the car she plows into. This is all pretty obvious pretty quickly so I don't feel like I'm giving anything way. If nothing else it adds to the cautionary aspect of the film, I mean seriously, how bad aof luck would you have to have to be leaving a high school party and crash into Bill Oberst Jr? Yep, something like that only guarantees that in a couple years, before you graduate, while ditching school to party with your friends, something really bad is going to happen. But of course, that’s the whole point!

Though not exactly new, Ditch Day Massacre's director Joe Hendrick (Smiley, 2012), and writers Daniel P. Coughlin, Ryan Coughlin (Farmhouse, 2008. Lake Dead, 2007) have created a solid homage to horror masterpieces that is more than Craven worthy. The cast, besides our loved Bill Oberst Jr., consists of Katy Foley as our perfect angel with the deep dark secret, Zach Silverman as our princesses boyfriend who has a deep dark secret of his own, and a special appearance from the incorrigible veteran scream queen Lynn Lowry (The Crazies, 1973/2010. Cat People, 1982. They Came from Within, 1972) as the lonely cat lady next door. Together with the supporting cast, we have a hoard of characters that work well together and a bunch of up and coming actors that surely had lots of fun on the set! The practical effects are perfect, despite a few continuity issues, and the music definitely creates the desired ambiance.

Official Website

Facebook

The Scarehouse (2014) Review Revisited

“Girls are mean, and not necessarily in the Lindsey Lohan way. The Scarehouse is a torturous version of Mean Girls, and nails it, with huge spikes through the head.”

When two friends open a Halloween fun house on Devil's Night it is all fun and games until their former sorority sisters begin to arrive. These six sisters are confronted by their past as the night spins out of control. (IMDB)

First, I have to give away a secret, sometimes when I watch a film to be reviewed I like to have my partner in crime, creepy bride, and by the printing of this review – wife, watch them with me. There are several reasons for this, besides the fact she is oft times just as twisted and interested in these things as I am. Which makes perfect sense when you think of it. She's a great sounding board, which I admit is oft times bad for her since it means I'm likely to ruin a movie as soon as I pick up on its formula. The reason I'm mentioning all this is because while watching The Scarehouse I was glad to have a woman's perspective. Her reaction to the story, and girl on girl vengeance, was priceless. She seemed to soak in the backstory and become fully involved with our lead characters thirst for vengeance. Usually, whether it be gratuitous sex or over played gore, a film with a full female cast would eventually lose her interest. But The Scarehouse delivered with fantastic lines, great chemistry, and wasn't gratuitous except in its ability to give the audience everything they'd want or expect. Basically I am convinced that woman actually act this way around each other, even the dildo and dyke jokes got a laugh. Which lead to two obvious questions... 1) Did a woman write The Scarehouse, and 2) The Scarehouse is an independent film?

The Scarehouse is written by the husband and wife team of Gavin and Sarah Booth (Sarah also being the lead character "Corey"). Gavin also takes on roles as director and editor. That much said, I don't feel like I cheated writing this review with the help of my significant other. Neither Gavin or I could have possibly understood the vindictive female without them. Scarehouse is full of up and coming Canadian actresses that have made appearance in popular television series and movies such as "Hemlock Grove", "Helix", the upcoming Del Torro film "Crimson Peak", "Reign", co-lead Elaina is played by Kimberly-Sue Murray ("Mirror Mirror", "The Colony") and many more. Together they have become an ensemble cast that perfectly represents female vanity and angst. 

The Scarehouse more than delivers on slasher fun. It is political and social commentary. Each of Corey and Elaina's victims are undone by their own vanities and even though you might try to care about the one or two bad asses that can fight back, ultimately you can't help but root for the killer duo. The soundtrack is a perfect mix of college rock that gives the entire film a late 80's early 90's feel. On that note, the filming style does much the same. The back story is presented via home video inner-cut with the cinematic present, perfectly placed so as to give away just enough info to lead us into the next torture until the entire mystery of why this happening becomes clear. Each death by vanity comes with killer lines I dare you not to laugh at. Of course there are twists, and the final one is the reason why I say there has to be a sequel. Finally, given the budget of the film, the practical effects get huge kudos.

The Scarehouse was shot inside an existing Halloween haunted attraction known as "Scarehouse Windsor" in Windsor, Ontario (directly across the river from Detroit, Michigan). Their budget was only $200,000 Canadian. This means most of the budget went to film stock and practical effects while the actors and crew did it all for pizza and Ramen. Good enough if you're really a college student but I get the impression they’ve all quit worrying about professors for a few years. No matter what The Scarehouse is the definition of an independent horror but does not look or feel anything like one. I can only suspect that when its release brings in triple the budget a sequel will be on its way. To the Booth's... I have an idea if you need any help! With or without my help though, The Scarehouse is perfectly placed for sequel material!

Til next we bleed,

J.P.

The Scarehouse homepage is here
The Scarehouse fanpage is here