Welcome to edition number 43 of Reviews from the Horror Chamber. In this edition, you will be treated to reviews of Charles Band’s latest film “The Dead Want Women”. Pupper Master 3’s David DeCoteau’s latest “Snow White: A Deadly Summer, and the independent horror film “Outtake Reel”.
Let’s get started.
“The Dead Want Women”
Year: 2012
Director: Charles Band
Stars: Shanley Caswell, Maureen McCormick, Eric Roberts
Studio: Full Moon Features
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 72 Mins.
“The Dead Want Women” is about a twenties silent film star who goes on a murdering spree, after she loses her studio contract. Years later, her mansion is abandoned when two realtors buy the house and remodeled it. They soon discover the house’s dark past and the ghosts that reside there. Now, the girls are trapped in a nightmare, where the ghosts are the directors.
I might be in the minority here, but “The Dead Want Woman was a decent film. The film has flaws, but it kept my interest through its short running time. Director Charles Band does a good job keeping the film moving at a brisk pace. He does that, by making the film feel all comic bookish. From the scenery to the acting, it somehow kept my interest. Speaking of the acting, Band did a good job getting the performances that he needed. The actors and actresses brought personality to their roles. This film wouldn’t have worked for me, if the performances didn’t have personality that grabbed my attention. The only problem that I had watching the film was the fact that it felt too short. It could have used another ten minutes or so to develop the main characters.
Kent Roudebush’s screenplay was for the most part flat. The major grip that I have with the screenplay is the fact that the main characters were under developed. This screenplay felt like it had a first act and a third act with the second act missing. When that happens, you’re hoping that the direction is good enough so that it would end up as a guilty pleasure film. Even though, I liked how Roudebush spends time developing the back story of the film. Sadly, the payoff isn’t that great due to the middle part being short.
Don’t expect much from “The Dead Want Women”, as it has good direction and a good set up, but falls flat on character development and action.
Review Rating: Two and Half Stars
Speaking of Eric Roberts, here’s another film which he co-stars
“Snow White: A Deadly Summer”
Year: 2012
Director: David DeCoteau
Stars: Shanley Caswell, Maureen McCormick, Eric Roberts
Studio: Lionsgate
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 83 Mins.
“Snow White: A Deadly Summer” follows Snow, a troubled teenager who gets caught up in a web of lies and is sent off to a discipline camp. There, things get worse for her. The campers there are being killed by someone unknown to them. Now, Snow must find a way to stop the killings, before she becomes the killer’s latest victim.
I’ve seen a lot of David Decoteau’s films over the years, but this might just be his worse film. I don’t where to start. His direction was just horrible. When you’re filming night scenes that look like they were shot in daylight, then your film has a serious problem. It looked like; Decoteau was taking countless shortcuts with the way that he was directing this film and not paying attention to detail. It hurts the quality of the film and makes it look cheap. Also, there’s no attempt to make any the characters interesting through the acting. His direction made the characters even duller then they already were.
Barbara Kymlicka’s screenplay isn’t much better. One of the things that I didn’t like about this screenplay was the fact that the characters were one-dimension. She doesn’t do anything to make the characters interesting and noticeable. That’s what made the characters boring. The other thing that makes this bad, there’s no tension in the film’s action. Kymllicka doesn’t do anything to create conflict, as I was bored with the story for the entire time.
“Snow White: A Deadly Summer” is no fairy tale, as the direction is horrible and the screenplay is flat our dull.
Review Rating: One Star
Finally in our independent spotlight, the found footage horror film "Outtake Reel".
“Outtake Reel”
Year: 2012
Director: Scott Fienblatt
Stars: Ava Santana, Scott Fienblatt, Jeffery Chaffin
Studio: Backyard Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 75 Mins.
“Outtake Reel” is about a behind the scenes filmmaker, who stirs up trouble on set of a horror film. The film’s director becomes very angry with the filmmaker antics. This sends the director spiraling out of control, as it leads him on a deranged journey into madness. Will any one survive the director’s onslaught and make it to the final reel. The film features special appearances from B-movie screen queen Tiffany Shepis and Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman.
“Outtake Reel” is by far the best of the films reviewed in this edition. Directors Scott Fienblatt and Jeffery Chaffin did a very good job using the found footage format to create an intense film. One of the things that made this good was the fact that they shot this film on digital video instead of film. It gives the film its realistic feel, when you’re watching it. It was a combination of faux behind the scenes footage and faux video diaries that help crafted what you’re looking at on screen. The other thing that the directors did well, they spend the time make sure that theirs and lead actress Ava Santana’s performances to feel realistic that your glued to the screen. If the performances didn’t have a realistic tone to it, then this would’ve been a long film to watch. Thankfully, the performances were the best part of the film.
I hate to know what’s going to happen to the main characters, in the beginning of the film. Thankfully, Fienblatt’s screenplay does a very good job maintain your interest through the fact that you know the fate of one of the main characters. He’s was able to keep my interest, by adding a couple of twists that made the story interesting. The twists did a very good job adding to the film story. By doing that, it doesn’t feel like a bunch of characters talking all the way to the last scenes and it makes you wonder where the story is going. It covers up the fact that you already know what happens, as you’re interested in the film’s story.
This film might not be for all horror fans, but this is one of the better micro budget found footage films that is currently out in the market place. “Outtake Reel” shocks you to the last reel.
For information on how you can purchase this film, you can visit the film’s official website at: http://www.outtakereel.com.
Review Rating: Four Stars
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