"Skull Heads" Review - Written by Anthony T

Skull Heads
Director: Charles Band
Studio: Full Moon Features
Stars: Robin Sydney, Samantha Light, Steve Kramer
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 78 Mins.



“Skull Heads is the latest film from noted B movie maven, Charles Band. The film is about a family, who lives in an isolated castle for many generations. A trio of art thieves, who want some of their precious painting, threatens their castle and privacy. But unknown to the thieves, the family has a group of ancient protectors known as Skullheads Those deadly dolls will protect the family at all costs.

This is one of those films where it had everything going for it. “Skull Heads” had good acting and a story that kept you interested, but it’s little things that this film has, prevents this from being one of Charles Band’s best films.

Everything was there for it to be very enjoyable. Band’s direction was one of this best. He does a great job with the way he uses the setting of the film. It gives off this gothic vibe that goes along with the story. It makes the film more of a chamber drama than an all out bloody horror film which Band is more known for, as he has direct such gorefest as “Blood Dolls” and “Hideous”. He also did a very good job directing his actors here. I liked how he makes the family very odd and gothic, from the look to the tone in which they speak. It adds film’s darkness tone that makes this watchable.

There is also a very good lead performance from Robin Sydney, who is truly on that list of B-movie starlets, with films like this, “Wicked Lake” and “The Lost”. She brings that energy that is needed to make you not sucked in with the tone of the film. Sydney did that, by making her character very lifelike and different from all the other family members. The performance helped me become interested with the story.

August White’s screenplay was for good for about two thirds of the film. One of the things that he does well is focus on the Arkoffs. He does that, by developing each of the family members and their history. The development helps give this film, its dark and gothic tone. White also does a good job holding much of the film’s action to the final act. It gives time to develop the characters and the mythology of the family and the Skull Heads.

But the most disappointing thing about this film was that the ending felt incomplete. This hurt my enjoyment for this film. It left me mind boggled, as the ending felt abrupt. This irritated me to a degree, because this is one of those films where it doesn’t work. You’re left wondering what happened to the remaining character. I felt that there could have been five more minutes to explain the aftermath, which would helped explain some of it and not leave you with all of these questions.

“Skull Head” is one of Charles Band’s better-directed films, but it’s disappointing ending hurt most of the enjoyment that I had.

Review Rating: Three Stars