Synopsis
A group of occultists horsing around with more than they know accidentally open up an evil portal and unleash a terrible force upon the world. Fortunately, there’s an organization of Demon Hunters on the job, determined to send this evil and all if its minions back where they came from.
We’re in sub-sub-sub-Buffy territory here. Like that series, the film has a fair amount of self-deprecating humour. Numerous jokes fall completely flat, but there are still a few that raise a chuckl… or two, which is necessary, given the amateurish FX and excessive running time. (No way this sort of movie should run over 90 minutes, let alone 110.) Points for the ambitious scale, but viewers interested in ultra-low-budget horror would be better served by Andre the Butcher.
Audio
The sound is workmanlike, getting the job done effectively enough, and while it won’t win any prizes, it’s pretty much the best aspect of the release. The sound is clear and clean, and the dialogue is neither drowned out nor distorted. The score’s mix is decent. There are some decent uses of surround capabilities. There are some rather obvious missed opportunities, too, but overall, not a bad effort.
Video
Much, much rougher. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1 non-anamorphic, and a picture already redolent of grain and pixelation becomes that much worse when blown up to fit 16×9 television screens. The picture tends to be rather murky, too. The blacks are good, but that’s about it. Watching the film is a bit of chore, and would be regardless of the actual quality of the production.
Special Features
Nothing but four trailers (including the feature’s). The menu, on the other hand, has plenty of animation and scoring.
Closing Thoughts
Low-budget films that don’t take themselves too seriously can be a blessing. This isn’t a particularly good example of that beast, however. It’s not awful, but it’s a bit of a ways from good.
Special Features List
- Trailers
