Title: Dark Reel
Cast: Lance Henriksen, Daniel Wisler, Edward Furlong, Tiffany Shepis, Rena Riffel and Matt Bushell (Twilight).
Directed by: Josh Eisenstadt (Red Lightning)
Scores: Technical: 90, Story: 45, Acting: 75, Overall: 78
Lance Henriksen (ALIENS, HARD TARGET), Tony Todd (Candyman), and Edward Furlong (TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY, AMERICAN HISTORY X) star in this self-conscious slasher throwback about “horror” films and their fans.
This is one of those films that as you start watching it, you say “oh, this is gonna suck” but, the longer you watch it, the more the movie strings you along. The movie opens with a great visual murder that takes place in the 50’s. Then it cuts to a present day Edward Furlong who plays Adam Waltz, a slightly obsessed horror fanboy(as they call him) who enters a contest to win a walk-on part in the newest horror movie directed by Derek Deeds (played by Jeffrey Vincent Parise) and starring his fave actress, Cassie Blue (Tiffany Shepis).
Just as he starts getting in the swing of things and hitting it off with the leading lady, someone gets killed. From there, things get strange as the movie turns this way and that way, with actresses getting picked off one by one, leading you to a very surprising finale. Unfortunately, the movie has some low points where it seemed to lose steam. The cast was actually very good for a B-movie, Lance Henriksen plays the eccentric Connor Pritchett who, at times, adds a great comic relief and, in my opinion, steals the show for most of the film. The Sound Guy (Justin Neill) is hilarious with his “NO REVERB!!!” rants, but that’s a majority of the memorable entertainment. Don’t get me wrong, the rest of the cast is great but, it would have been a lot better if they had more substance in the storyline.
All in all, the movie wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected. Hardcore horror fans like myself will find the movie lacks any kind of tension, but, for a late night movie or for fans who are easily entertained by famous faces, Dark Reel will keep you watching.
By Dave Minyard
