Farmhouse Sends Viewers Straight to Hell

A young couple on the run from extortionists wind up at a country farmhouse after their vehicle breaks down. After meeting a welcoming couple and enjoying some hospitality events takes a brutal turn as the owners of the farmhouse look to make Scarlet and Chad's stay permanent. Sometimes dying once is not enough for the souls of the damned.

Rating: Restricted for gore, violence and scenes of torture.

Release Date: December, 2008.

Starring: Jamie Anne Allman, Flynn Beck, Ryan Coughlin, Jack Donner, Nick Heyman, Henry Hudson, William Lee Scott and Kelly Hu.

Director: George Bessudo.

Writers: Daniel P. Coughlin.

Using a back story and flashbacks "Farmhouse," drifts back and forth between the past and present while delivering an interesting story of a couple on the run. William Lee Scott plays the father of a handicapped child and Jamie Anne Allman the mother; both actors deliver a performance rich in distress and anger at their situation. The story presents the struggles in dealing with a child who will never be normal or healthy and how a young couple chooses to cope with the situation. Slowly as the film progresses the actual environment in which the characters are attempting to get away from is given a reveal. In the "Farmhouse," the flashbacks actually work and breathe new energy into a sometimes brutally horrific cinema watching experience.

The original score from Mark Petrie delivers a tone seemingly from ancient times as a woman's voice wails in low tones while string instruments fade in and out with the sound effects of the film. It is continually amazing how an original score can really amplify the intensity of a film and offer a one two punch as long as the story holds its own. In the "Farmhouse," both the musical composition and sometimes haunting visuals act as a team to create a harmonizing visual and aural experience. Never taking center stage, but heightening near the end of the film the score really adds its own personality to the "Farmhouse."

Adding one of the most brutal torture scenes in recent movie history the "Farmhouse," does not shy from the gore or violence, yet the focus of the film is in delivering a tense, suspenseful story full of character insights. Steven Weber delivers a fine performance as Samael who seems to delight in the misfortunes of others while stalking, drowning, and basically tormenting other characters in the film. As well, Kelly Hu takes center stage and her characters brutal disfigurement of another female, with help from a cheese grater is almost completely unwatchable. However, each of the torture scenes is moving towards a frightening and shocking plot twist that few if any viewers might expect.

Supernatural elements of hell, the afterlife, and consequences of actions are the main themes of this slightly serious film. Leaving the interpretation of right and wrong, and really when are judgements this clear, up to the viewer the fate of the central couple seems unjust, but not without some merit. The sudden shift in the last fifth of the film from a country house to the gates of hell, full of demons really gives the "Farmhouse," bonus points for originality. Staying within a mostly man versus man plotline the surprise ending of a couple attempting to save themselves from a life of damnation adds an unlikely, yet devilish little twist at the end of the film.

Mostly unheard of supernatural, torture flick the "Farmhouse," will fully satiate horror fans with tales of extortion, and the (im)possibility of redemption. Starting off soft then immersing the viewer into the often times sick imagination of writer Daniel P. Coughlin, the "Farmhouse," is a cinema treat that must be seen. Enjoyable, surprising, and believable the "Farmhouse," can be found now at local movie stores as this film was given a late 2008 release date.

7 Burning Skulls out of 10.

A trailer for this non-standard horror, thriller:



Sources:

Farmhouse at IMDB

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