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Theater-goers attend(..and the hired staff of the establishment host) the midnight screening of an old 70's drive-in slasher, The Dark Beneath(..written, produced and directed by a psychiatric nut case who slaughtered a hospital's staff with the bodies, and himself, missing from the scene of the crime)featuring a skull-masked psycho in overalls, whose homemade weapon is a cone-shaped, cork-screw blade, who attacks a group of hippies with the misfortune of blowing a tire nearby his loony hick mama's decrepit farmhouse. Those in the cinema will understand the characters' dilemma all too well as they become prey to the killer who seemingly has the ability to remove himself from the film into reality stalking them, following their fear, he has a nose for this emotion. When the victims fall to the stalking supernatural killer, their bodies are carried into the film, and into his dungeon of rooms, a veritable prison for those whose fear he cashed in on.
Rebekah Brandes is Bridget, the young manager of the theater who takes care of her brother, Timmy(Justin Baric);both were a victim of fatherly abuse so their emotional wounds are still rather fresh. Daniel Bonjour is Bridget's very honorable and courageous boyfriend, Josh, who comes to her aid as protector when the situation grows more and more terrifying and the death toll ratchets upward. Greg Circulnick is Josh's obnoxious buddy, Mario and we see how much of a cowardly jerk he is when the killer has his girlfriend Samantha(Mandell Maughan)trapped with her hands pinned in a window seal. Jon Briddell is Detective Barrons, at the midnight screening in the hopes that it's creator might show up. Michael Swan is Dr. Wayne, the one who witnessed how bloody his hospital was at the hands of an escaped patient, and hopes that the lunatic will return to the theater where his film is playing. Also attending the show is a biker couple, Harley(Stan Ellsworth)and Babe(Melissa Steach)who are annoyed at the teen audience for talking during the movie. Rounding out the cast, Brea Grant as Rachel, the candy-popcorn counter girl with a lousy attitude, Shaun Ausmus as Kenny, wishing to improve his status in the theater begging for Bridget to allow him managerial duties so that he can show how responsible he can be, and Michael Schwartz as Sully, an opinionated hanger-on who wishes to join his teen peers and instead causes much disturbance when his body doesn't react too well to the popcorn and raisins. Arthur Roberts has a chameo role as the escaped crazy who made The Dark Beneath, quite memorable in his brief screen time.
Surprisingly brutal supernatural slasher with a sadistic killer who buries his corkscrew weapon deep into the bellies of victims. One victim gets the blade slammed into his face, while another receives it into her back shoulder as the killer twists it ripping deep inside. Brandes is quite a cute little lead actress establishing pretty much right away that she's sensitive and guarded due to past trauma and Bonjour's Josh is exactly who she needs, a person sympathetic towards her..Bonjour has that kind of "knight in shining armour" role. Ellsworth is fun as foul-mouthed, hulking Harley and his gal is the very sexy Steach(..her screen name, Babe is quite appropriate), who stands by her man always no matter how inappropriate his behavior can be at times(..ultimately, though, Harley has a heart, revealed when he finds out what Bridget has been through upon seeing scars on her arm)..he is certainly someone you'd like to have on your side if being chased by a maniac. I think if you dwell on the film's wacky plot, determining logic, then this will be certain to alienate you..it's more for slasher fans anyway, who can dispense with logic, embracing the loving nod to psycho-thrillers which appeared in Grindhouses. The killer's look is really effective, as is his weapon. The killer often dissolves in and out of reality, returning to the film to assault the characters. The theater setting has an ungarnished, archaic look representing a relic on it's way to being condemned. I'm not sure anyone will find the film on screen(..where the killer comes out of)a realistic example of 70's exploitation, however. Startlingly grim conclusion.
score 7/10
Scarecrow-88 3 February 2009
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2018025/ |
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23-3-2021 06:06:22