Closed for the Season and Nostalgia: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by MTI Home Video

**here be some very minor spoilers.

Director/writer: Jay Woelfel.


Tagline: "Welcome to the Carnival of Fear."

Set in the actual Chippewa Lake Park, Closed for the Season is more thriller than horror. To be released August 23rd, 2011, this is a film that, while small, offers an interesting message of nostalgia and the supernatural. The cover art for this film would suggests something much more horrific, but Closed for the Season is simply a small story of two childhood friends trapped within a lonely amusement park. Carnivals have feelings; did you know that? From here, the characters must find a way to escape the carny, or to satisfy the park's desire for attention.

Kristy (Aimee Brooks) and James (Damian Maffei) meet up in the heart of the park, after Kristy witnesses a man impaled on a tree (he is still kicking), a Lake Monster, a crazed Reb' and an out of control tractor. She sees much more than this and Closed for the Season sets itself squarely in the realm of the surreal. The film rarely leaves this realm, as dream sequences and mild concussions give answers for some of the hallucinations. However, these visions are created by the park itself and by its representative, the carny (Joe Unger).

The majority of the film is set in the remnants of Chippewa; so here, there are broken down Ferris wheels, a shaky roller coaster and, of course, the funhouse. Each of these shabby looking settings are teased with Joe Woelfel's imaginations and knack for writing dialogue. Thus, the sets come alive. Instead of mere drab, there is a place that families once came to. In place of rot, there is conflict and a message which asks Kristy and James for their stories. The teasing carny also has some stories to tell of his own to tell.

This is a small film made for under a million, so the focus is on the characters, the acting, and the film's underlining message. Woelfel makes some tough decisions by only giving attention to what the film can offer: solid interactions, some jump scares, and a hard look at victimization, through the eyes of Kristy and James. The film is not as depressing as described here. Instead, this is a mostly light-hearted adventure through the past. This is a past that was filled with laughter, enjoyable rides, the smell of cotton candy and of roasting popcorn. This is a time of the carnival, which may have declined in Chippewa, but which still survives in the stories and in the realities of today.

Setting/surrealistic/impressionistic: 8 (a barren setting gets turned into something more brilliant, excellent).
Social influence/message/parallels: 7.75 (the film makes a strong statement, which few films do).
Acting/characters/believability: 7.5 (the acting is solid, a few peripheral characters could have increased the complexity and excitement).

Overall: 7.75 (this is a really good film overall, enjoyed it).

Film details on this feature can be found at the MTI Home Video website:

Closed for the Season at MTI Home Video

Closed for the Season is recommended. This film releases August 23rd, 2011 on DVD, VOD, and digital. Special features for this title will include: a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, trailers and subtitles (Spanish):



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Posted in: aimee brooks,carnival,closed for the season,damian maffei,jay woelfel,movie review,movie review 2011,supernatural