Title: Laid to Rest
Directed by: Robert Hall
Starring: Bobbi Sue Luther (Extreme Movie), Kevin Gage, Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Sean Whalen and Thomas Dekker (A Nightmare on Elm Street).
Scores: Technical: 100, Story: 95, Acting: 88, Overall: 98
A terrifying story of a young girl who wakes up in a casket with a traumatic head injury and no memory of her identity. She quickly realizes she was abducted by a Deranged Serial Murderer and in an isolated rural town she must survive the night and outsmart the technologically inclined killer who is hellbent on finishing what he started. (Source: IMDB)
Laid to Rest is one of the most original horror flicks to come out in quite a while. I was not expecting much, just another low-budget “horror” movie that has the potential to be amazing but, leaves you totally disappointed. This was not that kind of movie.
The movie opens with some great opening credits showing the “making of the monster”. It was actually quite exhilarating and fresh, which of course, makes you want more. From there it goes to a girl (Bobbi Sue Luther) trapped in a casket. When she manages to get herself out, she realizes she has a severe case of amnesia, so she can’t recall how she got in the coffin, or who she is. As she tries to get help you start to understand how messed up she actually is, which I loved about the film. In most horror movies you get so frustrated when the antagonist/victim makes stupid choices. (If all your friends are dead, of course you should run outside half naked when the power goes out…DUH!!) This movie skirts that annoyance by making the girl very, very confused. That, in my opinion, is pure genius.
Now they introduce one of the most terrifying and original killers since Jason freakin’ Voorhees: ChromeSkull… (Played magnificently by Nick Principe) The mannerisms and movements make him human and not some super human machine. He bleeds and can be hurt, which again, makes him just a man.. As he does his business, he has his trusty video camera mounted on his shoulder. You never know why he does what he does; you just witness the carnage and remains of his past “indiscretions”. Which leads to the best thing about this movie; The Gore!!
Laid to Rest will satisfy even the most hardcore gore hounds. (Like myself) The SFX in this movie blows away anything I have seen the recent years (including the Hostel’s) The kill scenes made me cringe, clap, and holler all at the same time! The FX team outdid themselves and it makes a movie 10 times more amazing to actually see a face get blown off. It adds a realistic element that traumatizes the viewer even more.
The only thing about Laid to Rest that I wanted more of was back story. I know that movie goers don’t like to be bogged down by clunky back stories, but, I think in this film it would have added the empathy factor. It definitely did not need it; it’s still a great movie. I just would have liked to known a little more about the main characters.
My opinion, see the movie. It is a fun and thrilling horror flick that will keep you entertained and might even make you a bit squeamish. What true horror fan can turn that down?
Check back soon for some photos from the red carpet premiere of Laid to Rest!!
By Dave Minyard
