Director: Derek Young
Production Company: World Wide Multi Media
Genre: Grindhouse Horror
One Sentence Synopsis: An unidentified killer is murdering people at the local theater.
Series: Standalone
Release Date: 2013
Running Time: 94 min
Website: Click Here
Trailer: Click Here
Reviewed by: Reverend Leviathan
Final Score: 2.5 Moons (out of 5.0)
There’s a raging, psychopathic killer on the loose. Years ago, a man was horrifically slaughtered at a midnight matinee at the local movie theater in Martinsville, Virginia. Up until now, Detective Holt and the Metro Police have only had dead-end leads to help them figure out who the killer could have been. But suddenly the hunt is back on as an unidentified lunatic begins killing innocent film goers attending midnight matinees.
Story
The movie begins with a great introduction by Paul Ehlers (Madman) welcoming us to the feature, and then it opens to the scene at a cemetery. A woman is mourning at a grave yelling, “They still know nothing!” News reports come up about a man named James Young who was shot twenty years ago at the local midnight matinee and no arrests were made. We then jump to the theater. ( Anyone who has ever worked in the theater will be able to sympathize with the employee having to deal with a customer.) Clyde Stevens (John Rutland) works at the midnight matinee. He meets Sara Young (Randi Nelle) and is immediately infatuated with her, and they begin dating. The same day they meet at the theater a murder happens, and the hunt is back on.
Clyde is very happy with his new relationship, but his son Carl (Derek Young) is suspicious of his dad’s “mystery woman.” After dating for awhile, Clyde proposes to Sara at the theater and they attend a movie that was previewed earlier. Another murder occurs and it’s no secret who the killer is (though only the audience is made aware).
The marriage begins dissolving when Clyde decides to get involved in filmmaking. Sara doesn’t seem to approve in any way but goes along with it, and a murder occurs at the premiere of Clyde’s first movie. He appears to be a success and is seen at a film convention and greeted by many fans, including Ari Lehman (the first Jason Vorhees). Sara still hates that he’s in movies and things really go downhill. The ending was no surprise…at first!
Clyde speaking with his son about meeting Sara at the theater.
Presentation
Director Derek Young does a great job creating a grindhouse horror movie, especially on his budget (which I am sworn to secrecy not to reveal). Though it was shot in 2012 it’s very reminiscent of the old grindhouse movies from the seventies. The editing gets really creative in the theater as it cuts away to previews and you start watching the movie that’s playing. The frequent news shots do great scene changes as you see film reels and burning film clips. I feel that there are one too many scenes of the characters interacting just over the phone, and there are very few extras but that’s minor.
John Rutland does an amazing job as Clyde Stevens. He really got into character and comes across as a man going through a mid-life crisis, and he helps that with filmmaking. It was very easy for me to sympathize with him not having the approval of a loved one for something he was passionate about. This was Randi Nelle’s first performance and she nailed the part of controlling, bitter wife. There was a mild sex scene between them that was reminiscent of the old-school sexploitation films, and the music for that scene really made it awesome.
Sir, a dead man spilled my popcorn.
Gothic Fit
Any Goth that likes grindhouse style cinema would appreciate this film. There are a lot of cameos that could be identified by a Gothic audience. I also am a fan of midnight movies that appear in the theater, and the fact that the murders are taking place during a midnight matinee makes me reconsider going to Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Closing Thoughts
Grindhouse: An American term for a theater that shows exploitation films.
Modern Grindhouse Horror: SEE Midnight Matinee Psycho
Story: 3.0 Moons (out of 5.0)
Presentation: 2.5 Moons (out of 5.0)
Gothic Fit: 4.0 Moons (out of 5.0)
Final Score (not an average): 2.5 Moons (out of 5.0)
