Dinner Time is All Night Long in Barge People: A Film Review

Director: Charlie Steeds.

Writer: Christopher Lombard.

Cast: Kate Davies-Speak, Mark McKirdy, Natalie Martins, Makenna Guyler, Matt Swales and Kane Surry.

Barge People is the third film from United Kingdom director Charlie Steeds (Escape from Cannibal Farm). Another Dark Temple Motion Pictures production, this feature was completed in 2018 and released later that year, in London. Finally in North America, this indie horror title delivers a decent synth' soundtrack to a boat trip, gone very wrong. Meanwhile, writer Christopher Lombard knows his horror well and brings in elements of Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) here, with a cannibal family stalk-and-chase. The make-up effects are spot-on, while the initial set-up is a bit slow. This viewer liked Barge People more on the second playthrough, with the film offering a bloody good time along a deadly canal.

Sam Benjafield's music consistently gels well with the film. The soundtrack moves from softer melodies, during character interactions to more violent bass beats as a fight on the boat takes place. The score is continually connecting with the events on-screen and there are no off moments in the musical notes. The music, in the picture, is one of the film's stronger elements.

On the other hand, the story is mostly fluff. The picture almost comes across as a remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre circa 1974. Instead of Texas, the viewer is in the UK countryside. And instead of an old family home, there are only the confines of a slim boat, here. Meanwhile, characters are struggling against a cannibal family, in both films. Though, in this version, there is no chainsaw, but still a lot of blood splatter.

The make-up effects are consistently well done. At the fourty minute mark, two sets of villains enter the barge and there is little room to spare as characters choose hand-to-hand combat. So, hungry creatures are biting the faces off of their victims and blood is flying everywhere. When one of the cannibals is stabbed, whitish sangre sprays the characters. Later in the film, a man loses an arm to a machete swing, with all of the effects looking realistic. This film does not hold back on the red spectacle.

Barge People took its time releasing in the U.S. (Aug. 18th), via RLJ Films and Raven Banner Entertainment; but, it is available now in this territory and others. Barge People is very much an indie thriller, with director Steeds offering lots of shots of the amazing UK scenery. The filmmakers bring their best to the table, with a small budget and a focus on horror films of the past. And at dinner time, these cannibals are ready to eat everyone onscreen. Sometimes gruesome and consistently sounding great, Barge People is mostly a fun trip and worth taking.

Overall: 6.75 out of 10.

Barge People at Dark Temple Motion Pictures: Barge People Details at Dark Temple

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Posted in: 2020,barge people,cannibals,charlie steeds,horror movie review,make-up effects,movie review,story,united kingdom