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Secret Santa (2018)
Is it me, or is it hot in here?
Heh, and you thought YOUR family was unbearable during the holidays? Wait until you get a load of this bunch! Secret Santa is an independent horror film that packs a PUNCH and wraps itself up nicely with a bow in the end!
Written by Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan, the film is as witty and fun as it is gross, and gory! The back and forth dialog feels real at times!
Secluded in a lodge on a mountain side, the Pope family get together for their annual Christmas dinner, and Secret Santa! What starts out as a regular holiday get together, ends in peril!
Eyeballs pop, heads roll, and blood squirts and boy does it squirt! The late great John Gilbert gives an amazing performance as does Debra Sullivan! All the other actors are really good and fit their roles well!
The film was shot quickly and on a tight budget, but director Adam Marcus knows where to put his money when shooting, and with his background in theater Adam does a great job working with the actors to get the best performances he can.
Some excellent homages to John Carpenter's the Thing, Halloween, hell... parts of the score sound like a John Carpenter's Christmas Album! It's wonderful!
Although this is a Christmas movie, you can watch it during any season! You don't want to miss this one! It's like a Hallmark movie on steroids. Make this part of your Holiday viewing, it goes good between Rudolph the red nose reindeer and Elf.
Secret Santa, it's the gift that keeps on giving!
Phew... hallelujah, holy crap ... where's the Sodium Pentothal.
P. S. I do not ass cancer on the director.
Spirits of the Fall (2008)
Very Atmospheric!
So instead of going out to see Saw V when it did, me and some friends decided to head to watch this film, which was being held at my house, I had received the DVD in the mail, after asking for it. I have known russ for some time, and loved his earlier stuff. So I went into this film with my friends with High expectations.
I was not disappointed, yet there are somethings that make you wonder... so... Watch out there are spoilers!
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!
For one near the end of the film you begin to wonder what exactly happen to the brother... not giving anything away he kind of just vanishes... not sure if he dies or not... he was a likable character, and you kind of feel lost when he vanishes.
One thing I liked a lot were the camera angles... which added to the dark and eerie atmosphere. There are a lot of close ups which add a bit of claustrophobia to the viewer to kind of show what the main character is going through.
There are some great scares in this as well, especially the key hole. The music really builds up tension, and reminds me a lot of the halloween films. One listen to the sound track and you will feel that the music was inspired by John Carpenter. It is very subtle, but when it is time for a scare it really jumps on you.
Some characters were not needed, and are only there for one scene, you sit there hoping they will come back to be a larger part of the film... but they don't which was my only disappointment. At one point where you think a female is going to be the new love interest of the character which could add problems, due to he is trying to get over his long lost love.... and moving on at the same time, thought it would of added a nice twist. but who knows, there is always room for a sequel.
Being a fan of indy films, and maker... you have to go into movies with an open mind. Some reviewers will slam an indy film because it doesn't have a larger budget than some films, or has no well known actors, or doesn't have charlie clouser scoring it. And some indy films are just... well crap. But they try is what I am saying. You have to know all the pain and troubles a director goes through, and I could relate with Russ on this. By watching you can tell they might have run into problems, which makes me respect the film more.
Some of the acting might be a bit stale in some parts, but other than that, it was a really good movie, with some great effects, and one hell of a crazy ending. Keep it up man, this was great! Keep bring horror back where it belongs! I give this film 9 skulls. Will Hartman