Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Dark Feed is Indigestible: A Movie Review


Directors/writers: Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen.

Cast: Evalena Marie, Dayna Cousins, Victoria Nugent, Michael Reed, and Rebecca Whitehurst.

The Rasmussen brothers are probably best known for the work with John Carpenter on The Ward. This earlier title was a horror film with a strong psychological element. Carpenter does not direct the Rasmussen's Dark Feed. Instead, these two have taken on the filmmaking responsibilities, themselves. Unfortunately, they should have rehired Carpenter as Dark Feed stumbles through a weak premise, poor pacing, average acting and dimly lit settings. The end result is a 28DLA Worst Indie Film of 2013 nomination.

The Rasmussen brothers first feature as directors sticks with the psychiatric hospital from their earlier work. Here, several characters are trying to put together an indie film. It is a film within a film, get it? The production does not go smoothly as murderous spirits move about the setting. A black ooze begins to pour out of the building's walls. And soon, characters are losing their minds. Several murders take place (mostly involving crew killing cast members) and production on the film is halted, permanently.

Drop the axe and turn on the lights!


This premise has been done before and better. Horror films fans might want to revisit Brad Anderson's Session 9, or the more recent Asylum Blackout. These two films have a lot more tension than the one reviewed here. Instead of tension and thrills, Dark Feed offers a weak script, which barely explains the hospital's tortured past. Apparently, a psychiatric doctor killed his family in this setting. This premise is only given a line or two of dialogue, before the monotony sets in. The averageness of the script and its execution rarely rises above dreariness.

Thus, Dark Feed is one of the first films to receive a Worst Indie Film of 2013 nomination. The reasons for this nomination are numerous: poor lighting, an uninspiring protagonist, weak music, and overly long scenes. The film is hard to see, with the artificial lights only partially utilized. There is no natural light used at all. The protagonist is a bumbling idiot with few redeemable qualities. The score is often flat, or too frenetic. And, this title needed further editing. Scenes are held for too long. The film's detriments are many and they hamper the entertainment value of this piece. The film's climax is the only element that might save this film from being the Worst Indie Film, this year. The finale has a few chase scenes, which actually add some excitement to the film. Unfortunately, viewers will have to slog through eighty-five minutes of boredom to get there.

Dark Feed is almost unwatchable and it is definitely not recommended. This title had its dark heart in the right place, but this title screams mediocrity. And, with so many other more interesting horror films out there, horror fans are encouraged to seek out better films. See Quin Davis' recently released Animus and let Dark Feed reside where it wants, oblivion.

Overall: 5.5 out of 10 (almost unwatchable, overly dark sets, acting is average, the premise is underdeveloped).

*this title was released on DVD March 19th, 2013.

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