Thursday, January 14, 2016

You will not be Able to Look Away from All Hallow's Eve 2: A Film Review

Directors: Jesse Baget, Elias Benavidez, Andrés Borghi, Jay Holben, Mike Kochansky, James Kondelik, Jon Kondelik, Bryan Norton, Antonio Padovan, Ryan Patch, Marc Roussel.

Cast: Landon Ackerman and April Adamson.

The first All Hallow's Eve came out in 2013. The first film hosted three fearsome short films. Each revolved around a murderous clown. This second release has expanded to eight films. This time the cast and crew have greatly increased, while the wraparound has decreased in importance. This film viewer enjoyed three films more than the rest, including: "A Boy's Life," "The Last Halloween," and "Alexia." These three stood out from the others by focusing on a horrifying and sometimes surprising tone.

In the line-up, "The Last Halloween" appears second. This film, completed in 2014, follows four trick-or-treaters. This short quartet are out for candy, during an apocalypse. The locals are not very receptive to their demands for sweets. But, the tables turn as this short crew take home invasion to a new, murderous level. The inhabitants can only fight back for so long. The settings, dark tone and fiery finale help this film's visual appeal.

"A Boy's Life" shows up just after Jon and James Kondelik's "M is for Masochist." "M is for Masochist" was a potential entry into the ABCs of Death 2, horror anthology. "A Boy's Life," from director Elias Benavidez, starts off with a sombre tone. It is apparent that the child's father has been killed in some remote land as a Marine. He suffers from fear and from the creatures that may lie beneath his bed. His mother tries to allay his fear, by pointing out the possible irrationality of believing in monsters. This short film is a set-up, though. The sombre tone is soon replaced by humour, for this viewer. The ending has a surprise and this viewer has not laughed so hard, at a film, in quite awhile. This short is drawn out, but the final few scenes are laugh out loud funny.

"Alexia," a film from director Andrés Borghi, takes a few notes from Gore Verbinski's The Ring (2002). Both films host a killer that resides within an inanimate object. As well, the antagonist emerges from this device, in a terrifying manner. This film offers great make-up effects, a dark setting and a terrifying ending. This final short in the anthology is memorable, even if you do not want it to be.

All Hallow's Eve released in October of last year, through video-on-demand. The film is also set to release, through DVD, in early February. The film features eight very different stories from an eclectic group of filmmakers. And, anthologies continue to be this reviewer's favourite horror format. If one short film does not sit well with you, then the next might hit the mark. This is a film that should not be missed by fans of indie horror. While your adrenal glands and funny bone might not completely like a viewing, most watchers will walk away with a satisfied feeling, thanks to All Hallow's Eve 2 and the cadre of creators behind the film.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (only the wraparound faltered - a surprise was needed).

Readers can view "The Last Halloween" below, from Marc Roussel, here:

"The Last Halloween" on 28DLA

Recommended release:

All Hallow's Eve (2013) at Amazon


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