Camp Motion Pictures recently released a horror double feature of films that are directed by underground filmmaker Richard Griffin. He's one of those directors that always makes his films entertaining with the budget constrictions that are often associated with these films. Please note, the film reviews for both "Beyond the Dunwich Horror" and "Pretty Dead Things" are reposts of reviews that I did in late 2008 and early 2010 with changes and edits made.
Disc One:
Disc one starts off with "Beyond the Dunwich Horror". This is a repost of my review from 10/31/2008 with new edits.
"Beyond the Dunwich Horror" is latest of H.P. Lovecraft’s work that’s being loosely adapted for film. Kenny Crawford is a person from Providence (Michael Reed) who arrives in Dunwich, after finding out that his brother (Jason McCormick) is locked away in a mental institution. He begins to find out that his brother might have something to hide, as he’s becomes a suspect in a couple of disappearances. To prove his brothers innocents, he begins to investigate the disappearances with the help of a local reporter and the town’s eccentric. They begin find out that Kenny’s brother was involved with a mysterious woman (Sarah Nicklin) and her creepy boyfriend, who are into the occult and need him to find something for their devilish plan that may spell doom for everyone. The film also costars Lynn Lowry and Jeff Dylan Graham.
"Beyond the Dunwich Horror" is a very Gothic and surreal horror film that keeps entertained. Writer/ Director Richard Griffin did a very good job adapting H.P Lovecraft’s dark story. I liked, how the material didn’t become too outrageous or too surreal. Speaking of the surreal images, the images were very surreal. Credit for that goes to both Griffin and the film’s cinematographer Ric Rebelo. With the camerawork and the bizarreness of the action that is taking place, it felt like your watching a David Lynch film at times. Gorehounds won't be disappointed here, as the film is very gory. Griffin handles the gore effects very well, as the effects made the some of the scenes, very shocking that it would make your truly cover your eyes. The acting was surprisingly good, considering that the acting of the first ten minutes of this film felt clichéd. Griffin gets some very good performances after the first ten minutes, especially from one of the film’s leads Sarah Nicklin. Her performance is one of the film’s highlights, as she makes her character darkly seductive and terrifying. That’s the type of performance that is needed in a female villain, which isn’t seen with most female villains.
Griffin’s screenplay was very good. He handles Lovecraft’s dark material very well, from the original story. This film never lets up on the dark and surreal atmosphere. This would make the scares, very effective. Griffin times the horrific moments very well, as they come off as scary and not dull. Another thing that was done well, the material in the screenplay and story wasn’t too confusing. Then again, you’re expecting this, because this is a H.P. Lovecraft story. But what makes it not confusing, the subplots were interesting and I could tell what was happening. He also does a good job making the characters very interesting, which helps the film. Griffin develops them very well, which also contributed to making the characters interesting and not boring.
The first discs boasts a couple of good special features. First, is the film's audio commentary with director Richard Griffin, Producer Ted Marr, Cinematographer Ricardo Relbelo, Actress Sarah Nickin and Actor Michael Reed. A good commentary track here, as it goes into the casting and the production of the film. It was also nice to get an actor's perspective on the making of the film. It helps the track become more entertaining and gives another perspective on the film that your don't see in most low budget horror commentary tracks.
After that, there faux trailer called " Night of the Demonhouse", which was directed by Griffin. This comes off "Stephen Romano Presents Shock Festival" DVD compilation, which hosts a bunch of fake and real grindhouse trailers and is available in DVD stores everywhere.
The last feature on disc one is the 48 hour film project faux trailer for "Nun of That", which can be also found on the "Nun of That" DVD. This short faux trailer would lead to an eventual film, which I highly recommend to those who those love homage films to grindhouse cinema.
Disc Two:
Disc Two starts off with "Pretty Dead Things". This is a repost of my review from 1/22/2010 with new edits.
"Pretty Dead Things" focuses on four vampires, who were former porn stars with names like, Shelby St. Exxmin, Rex Van Horn, Shane Starkweather and Jennifer Bond. Two of them decide to lure a pizza delivery boy to their room one night and turn him into a vampire. The vampires are enjoying the lifestyle of lust and blood sucking, until the corrupt mayor of Providence begins to take notice of their actions. Soon, he along with his spiritual advisor band together with the same pizza delivery boy that is hell-bent on revenge. While that’s happening, Bond begins to rethink everything in her life, including her past relationship with a porn director, before becoming one of them. Can the past relationship be rekindled, before all hell breaks loose?
“Pretty Dead Things” is one of the weirdest and most wildest vampire film that you will ever see. Richard Griffin, who’s has done some very entertaining micro-budgeted films in the past such as “Feeding the Masses”, “Splatter Disco”, and most recently “Nun of That” has done his most outrageous film yet. His direction was just off the wall,as it’s comes off as a homage to the grindhouse horror and exploitation films of the seventies. Griffin makes that happen, by making some of the scenes very gory. It gave you the feeling that the screen is covered in blood and it makes the action fun to watch.
One of the things that an ultra low budget film needs is a cast that is interested in the material and have fun with it, if the script calls from it. Griffin seems to know when to let his actors and actresses have fun and when to be serious with the material. This film was no different, as the performances were very good and really got me into the flow of the film. Sometimes, the performances make a film like this fun to watch.
I also thought, the screenplay was good. Griffin and screenwriter Sandeep Parkin did a very good job making this vampire film very different to the ones that I’m accustomed to seeing. One of the things that this screenplay does well, the way the writers time the humor with the drama and action that goes on during the course of the film. Some of the jokes and dialogue were written very well that you couldn’t help but laugh. The screenwriters also do a good job developing the main character for most of the film with the backstory and the relationship that she has with another character. It gets lost toward the end, but this is not a serious film because there is enough craziness and violence that goes on that it makes you forgive about its misgivings.
On Disc two, there isn't many special features as the first disc. The first extra is the film's audio commentary track with director Richard Griffin and producer Ted Marr. This does a very good job going into the technical aspects of the film. It's very informative, as the two talk about the locations, the cast, and some of the shortcuts that they used in creating some of the film's scenes. Overall, a very interesting and informative track.
After that, there's trailers for other Camp Motion Pictures and Shock-O-Rama releases.
Final Summary:
From H.P Lovecraft to vampire porn actor, this set provides some very entertaining horror and showcases the works of Richard Griffin. I really suggest you check these films out. And if you like them, I highly suggest you check out his other films "Nun of That" and "The Disco Exorcist".
Both "Beyond the Dunwich Horror" and "Pretty Dead Things" are entertaining films that will please horror fans that are into serious and fun horror films.
"Beyond the Dunwich Horror" Review - Four Stars
"Pretty Dead Things" Review - Four Stars
DVD Extras - Three and a half stars
