Trailer Park Sharks (2017) by Griff E. Furst

Director: Griff E. Furst
Year: 2017
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genres: Sharks

Plot:
Trying to make ends meet, residents in a struggling trailer park down in the middle of the country manage to get swept away in a plot by a developer to drown the area only to have a vicious shark to get involved with them as well and forces them to deal with both issues.

Review:

This one wasn't all that bad of a killer shark effort. One of the finer aspects of this one is the fact that there's a strong set of action throughout here that gives this a strong overall pace. The trick at the beginning featuring the event staged in two parts where it shows the pipeline being sabotaged and then going back to bring about the cause of the event itself in the second go-round is rather nice with the confrontation with the shark thrown in to give it a great feel. The resulting aftermath in the drowned-out trailer park is quite impressive featuring all the water rushing over and overtaking the community still inside their trailers due to the storm is quite an enjoyable sequence especially with the rescue efforts shown immediately afterward which helps to give this a sense of scale to the action.

The scenes of the group encountering the shark in the flooded remains of their community offer some great action as well with the shorter scenes of the shark jumping out to take care of the residents as there's plenty of fun featuring the attacks on the two different sets of victims on the river. The big attack scene on the group of hunters trying to carry out their assassination only to have the shark interrupt matters displaying its electrical attack to further drive home some nice action, while the final confrontation manages to include the final attack on the final residents of the park putting their big plan against the shark into fruition gives this a solid series of action-packed scenes that are incredibly fun and providing plenty to like.

The cast here is a lot better than expected. Thomas Ian Nicholas as Rob is quite the lovable inhabitant of this community, which is an accurate description for most of the people here as this is quite a well-rounded crop of citizens that you get to root for throughout here. From his girlfriend Jolene, played by Lulu Jovovich to Rufus the Cowboy, played by Clint James, Barbara Wire played by Sophie Howell and Elise Berggreen as Daisy, the central group of the trailer park community becomes a fun, enjoyable group of people to follow. With a fine turn by Dennis Haskins as evil developer Deconnard and a funny cameo by Tara Reid, overall the cast here is pretty enjoyable. Coupled with a great amount of gore from the high body count, there's a lot to like here which holds it over it's few minor flaws.

The main issue here is the fact that there's just not a whole lot of realistic work one for the shark, which is so fake-looking and CGI-heavy that it really sticks out here, not only because it's such a difference against the rest of the scene that it stands out. The fact that there's just nothing all that impressive about the way it looks. The other big factor to lower this one is the fact that there's just no reason for this one to put dealing with the shark first before the developer storyline, which ends up leading to the fact that the shark doesn't come off as the main threat, neutralizing it in it's own movie since it's done first and then the attention is turned to the subplot rather than having the two stories intertwined at the end. It doesn't end this on a high note and really brings this down somewhat, although it still has a lot to like.

Overview: ****/5

As this one provides plenty of truly enjoyable elements coupled with a few minor issues that don't really drag this down much, there's plenty to really like here and emerges as one of the channel's better efforts. Really give this one a try if you're into those types of efforts, while those that don't appreciate these efforts should heed caution.

Megalodon (2018) by James Thomas

Director: James Thomas
Year: 2018
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Sharks

Plot:
After hearing about a potential accident, a Navy commander takes a crew down to investigate the area only to find the accident has unleashed a massive, prehistoric shark back into the world's oceans and must find a way of stopping the creature before it becomes known to the world.

Review:

Frankly, this was a rather enjoyable and entertaining entry. One of the main areas working for it is the rather fun and somewhat unique storyline here that provides this one with some great action. The idea of the shark capturing the sub at the very beginning and swallowing them forcing the majority of the film to become a series of rescue attempts which provide this with plenty of exciting scenes from both sides of the situation. Down below, the attempts from inside the creature where they employ some inventive strategies to defend themselves while the ship's crew engages in a few rather unconventional tactics to drive the creature towards the surface in order to free them leads to some fun times here.

The second half here is where this one really picks up some fun action as there's plenty of battles with the shark against the ship. Not only does this feature the blazing gun-battle where they draw the shark up to the surface and battle the creature with plenty of firepower from the ship itself, yet the entire finale here offers up quite a different kind of action here with the series of gunfights in the bowels of the big battleship as the shark continually circles around to make it's presence known. The final concept for defeating the shark is quite inventive and offers up some nice counterparts to the action just before which ends this in a nice blazing inferno which is enough to hold this one up over it's flaws.

One of the main problems here is the fact that there's just no reasoning for the subplot about the Russians onboard the ship interrupting their plans which don't make any sense and really manages to take a lot of the impact away from the shark itself. The fact that they're choosing that time and place to make a political stand is quite ludicrous and doesn't make any sense due to the battle with the shark which is taking place that interrupts their plans. By diverting focus away from the shark at this critical point in the film, the film maintains a disjointed pacing with the creature being replaced by the exploits of these crazed commandos who are in the process of trying to get them to safety so it just feels tacked on for no real reason.

The other big issue is the usually expected low-budget CGI that crops up throughout here. The shark is actually the best part where it looks better than expected despite it being obviously repeating the same motions in it's scenes, yet here it's more the environments that really bring out the bad graphics. From the shots of CGI water that the shark swims around in that are obviously simulated in a computer to the really lame look of the battleship floating in the water that looks absolutely awful in how it's rendered, it's not nearly about the CGI creature but more the environments in this one. While some might also complain about the lack of screentime, overall those are the main issues here.

Overview: ** 1/2/5
Despite having a lot of rather enjoyable elements at times, the fact that it manages to undo a lot of those with it's negative aspects is a little underwhelming. Give this one a shot if you're a hardcore giant shark movie fanatic, while those looking for more continuous killer shark antics should heed caution.

Empire of the Sharks (2017) by Mark Atkins

Director: Mark Atkins
Year: 2017
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Sharks; Post-Apocalyptic

Plot:
In a post-apocalyptic future, a group of humans growing tired of their subservience to a warlord who controls a group of man-eating sharks sets out to stop him when they realize he's taken hostage a member of their colony that can also control the sharks.

Review:

This here wasn't all that bad of a post-apocalyptic shark film. One of the better elements here is the fact that this one goes for the more traditional route of the creature feature genre. The setting of the future with the floating fortresses and the future technology present give this a great build that's part of the storyline here revolving around the search for water controlled by the warlord. This gives the film a kind of starting point that provides the film with the kind of action that works well here, from the opening scenes of the raid on the village giving this one a great burst with their abduction tactics as well as the use of the sharks, the aborted rescue attempt that forces the retreat back into the submarine where they get chased away and the later scenes of them inside the compound trying to figure out the different powers she possesses by having her interrupt their treatments manages to provide this one with the kind of stylistic scenes usually featured here.

The attempt to breach the fortress is a lot of fun with the layered attack featuring plenty of different modes of attack giving this one a great build as the different parts being exercised throughout here allow for a great sequence, and when placed with the fantastic finale where they manage to put their plan into action to finally save them is a spectacular finish here that melds the post- apocalyptic action with the sharks into a rather big finale. Continually featuring the sharks or the attempts to rescue the group means this one moves along really nicely and gives this a lot to really like that holds this up over its minor flaws.

The main issue to be had here is the fact that there's just so little traditional shark action here with the post-apocalyptic setting that it might potentially turn off more looking for traditional fare. Giving this that setting provides this one with the rather different tone than most others and sets up the different kinds of scenarios that really don't provide the kind of typical virtues here that gives this a different feel. Likewise, the film has way too much lame CGI that provides rather comical scenes here with the sharks under orders from both parties that fill up the screen and really highlight the low-budget with their obvious usage. Still, this one has a lot to really like.

Overview: ***/5

While there's points of interest in this one, the fact that it's all pretty much based around one or two areas makes this slightly enjoyable if not overly recommended. Only give this one a chance if you're a fan of the post-apocalyptic style of genre feature or appreciate these cheesy creature features, while those that can't tolerate them should heed caution.

Planet of the Sharks (2016) by Mark Atkins

Director: Mark Atkins
Year: 2016
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genres: Sharks; Post-Apocalyptic

Plot:
Stuck on an over-flooded planet, a group of survivors trying desperately to restore land mass to the surface finds that a group of sharks has gathered together to follow a leader of the creatures and must put their plans on hold to stop the deadly creatures.

Review:

This one here wasn't all that bad of a killer shark effort. One of the better features here is the surprisingly fun and enjoyably cheesy post-apocalyptic storyline presented here, which is so nicely integrated into a normal killer shark film that gets featured here in quite fine form throughout. A vast majority of this is due to the setting in the future where it's all based on the end-of-the-world scenario where it brings in the flooded surface world, the isolated segments of humanity living on floating islands in the middle of the sea and the overall look and feel of the characters in here makes this one really feel like a new concept for the creatures, and there's plenty of fun here that comes from the great action scenes that come from being put into this background.

The main start-up scene here of the easy rampage against the undefended community at sea where they rampage across the group and taking out both the fisherman on the surface as well as the buildings nearby which starts this off on a nice note, while the later attack on the supply crew where their initial harvesting the ocean celebration that draws the sharks in for them to slaughter gets turned against them when they start launching the attack against them leaping out of the water to take them out and really gets into the fun of the swarm attacking the different people going around the different buildings and levels along the scene where it's got plenty of fun action along the way. As well, the big finale where it's all about the charging sharks attacking the different sections of the facility and going onto the big battles against the remaining fish as there's a great method of finally defeating the creatures once and for all. These elements here really do work nicely here, while there's a few somewhat minor elements that hold this one down.

One of the bigger issues is the fact that there's some really lazy work done on trying to try to explain why the sharks are clearly behaving as they are. There's a scene here where they do manage to showcase that to the audience with the sequence where they tell why there's an alpha-shark controlling the others which are comprised of different species which doesn't happen in real-life yet the way it tries to go about making sure it plays out for the film here is really lazy and makes no sense as they go about it here. As well, there's plenty of the genre's usually-atrocious CGI that crops out here, which has some absolutely ridiculous work here in not only rendering the creatures who have all that ridiculously pixelated look but also feature that kind of horrible look where they don't interact with their surroundings at all and really helps to sell the terrible CGI here. Otherwise, this one wasn't all that bad.

Overview: ***/5
While there are a few issues to be had here, none of these are really as detrimental as it should be which leaves it as an enjoyable if not that impressive entry. Give this a shot if you're a fan of these particularly cheesy creature features or find this setup interesting, while most others should heed caution here.

Mississippi River Sharks (2017) by Misty Talley

Director: Misty Talley
Year: 2017
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Sharks

Plot:
Preparing for an annual tradition, a group of locals at a fishing competition on the Mississippi River find that the whole affair has been invaded by a species of man-eating sharks and must find a way of getting the rest of the fishermen off the river and stop the sharks.

Review:

There was a lot to really like in this one. One of the film's positive points is the fact that there's plenty of solid lead-up throughout here to get the main point of the film going. With the exploits of the fishing competition carrying on with all the fine build-up here of the big attacks that provide all the lead-in to the infestation, from the first fisherman attack out on the marina and the ensuing ambush on the deputy trying to clean up the crime scene, the confrontation on the main section of the river where they produce the creature for the masses and the sequence where the creatures arrive to interrupt their plan to stop them by launching the out-of-water attack on the locals.

With these scenes all coming to point out the rather fun concept of the creatures invading the fishing competition with the disbelieving locals, there's a lot to like with the idea of this one setting up a race to warn people against the attacking creatures while they work their way down in several shorter attack scenes. Given that these attacks are pretty much continuous for the most part as it shows them grabbing the fishermen off the river or jumping out of the water to grab people, that allows this one to really give this the kind of frantic pace that really appeals to the cheesy nature of the storyline. That even continues on into the rather fun finale where their plan to rid the sharks is initially foiled through sheer ineptitude rather than anything to do with the film itself even though that carries the action rather nicely and sets up some rather fun moments here. Alongside the big body count that produces some solid CGI gore, these here make for quite a lot to like in the face of the few minor flaws.

The film's biggest issue is the rather problematic reasoning why the mayor continues the fishing competition as long as he does even in the face of the mounting evidence against it. There's obviously sharks in the water and have already eaten several by the time this one gets going, but the fact that he keeps it going for ludicrous reasoning is simply continuing a genre standby more than anything else and it just makes no sense why it would be featured. The continual ineptitude displayed to carry on the film makes no sense either and really does serve the film no reason for existing longer than it really should. The CGI is also a problem, but overall there's a lot to like here.

Overview: *** 1/2/5

Despite once again featuring the same kind of issues that usually crop up in these kinds of films, the fact that it's still rather enjoyable makes this one quite exciting. Give this a shot if you're into these kind of cheesy SyFy Channel original creature features, while those who have no tolerance for these films should heed caution.

Ozark Sharks (2016) by Misty Talley

Director: Misty Talley
Year: 2016
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: Summer Shark Attack
Genre: Sharks

Plot:
Heading off to a cabin, a family and friends on their Fourth- of-July vacation find that the areas is infested with man-eating sharks preying on the locals and try to get them to believe their tales in order to stop the creatures and get everyone to safety.

Review:

This one was quite the fun and enjoyable effort. One of the better features here is the fact that there's the ever-present high amount of action present here for these types of films, and it manages to get a highly enjoyable series of scenes from that. The opening attack is quite enjoyable, with the kids slowly being picked off while no one's watching and then finally forced to escape when it's apparent something's in the water with them which gets this going rather nicely, a rather fun encounter with some swimmers on the water, a rather fine series of scenes where it attacks different people along the water and the rather thrilling series of encounters where they try to rescue the several groups of trapped outside while the sharks continually circle around to take out the different victims.

Even with these fun scenes, the film's at its best when it comes to the rather frantic and highly enjoyable series of scenes within the race to get to the main being held on the water there which has the great confrontations along the way where the sharks start picking off the separated groups in fine fashion, the different battles against them where they fight to get them under control and leading up to the incredibly fun part of their attempts to curtail them at the festival which is the film's big action scene here which manages to get plenty of thrilling action out of their failed warnings which soon causes the disbelieving locals to start getting attacked by the swarm of creatures and requiring their fine rescue attempts as well as the first attempts to stop them with their weaponry which is quite a blood-filled riot with the crazy schemes devised to put them down for good while still managing a few rather nice bloody deaths along the way.

All told, there's plenty of exciting action throughout here and that helps to give this such a charging pace that it really stays so enjoyable with all sorts of fun encounters that there's barely any down-time. As well, there's also the exciting fact that there's a great deal of fun with the different tactics devised to stopping them which really explores the backwoods do-it-yourself mentality to it's craziest extreme with some fantastic weaponry utilized here and it's quite fun here due to that. Along with the great gore, these here make this one enjoyable enough to really overcome a lot of it's flaws.

The main issue here is the fact that there's the usual atrocious CGI utilized for the creatures. They look like the usually abysmal manners of the CGI that's always featured here, from the inability to react to their surroundings and the size changes within the dimension of the screen to the inability to really blend into the environment and they really give themselves away as being fake especially in the scenes where they interact with their victims on land in a few rare occasions when they launch themselves out of the water to attack. Aside with some rather curious and lame attempted comedy that doesn't really register at all, these here really hold this one down.

Overview: ****/5

With plenty of exciting and enjoyable elements present throughout here and only a few mildly detrimental elements that hold it back, this is quite the entertaining killer shark effort. Give this one a watch if that's your thing or want an entertaining no-frills SyFy Channel creature feature, while those who aren't into those efforts are advised to steer clear of this one.

Atomic Shark (2016) by A.B. Stone

Director: A.B. Stone
Year: 2016
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: Saltwater: Atomic Shark
Genre: Sharks

Plot:
Following a wave of shark attacks, Southern California lifeguards find that they're being attacked by a great white shark subjected to massive amounts of radiation from nuclear tests and must try to save the beaches when the shark approaches a crisis mode.

Review:

There was a lot to really like about this one. Among it's better features is the fact that there's the usual high-amount of action scenes within this one as there's a lot of fun to be had from the rather fun series of scenes throughout here. The opening attack on the parasailer is quite fun with the creature being unseen against the diver and attacking her while the boat trails off and sees the shark coming back causing his escape, a later attack on a group of water-tunnel works that is a fun cheesy highlight of the shark moving through the hoops to set them on fire before biting at the one on the equipment and the centerpiece scene where it attacks a second parasailing group that's in the different boats leading to the fire-fueled assault on them before taking out the others up on the rig.

It's the kind of appropriately cheesy and high-action scene that works incredibly well, while the other big fun action scene featured that's nearly as much fun is the second beach assault that showcases the shark running through the different swimmers as it comes into shore and then landing on the beach to attack even more patrons before going out to sea which is quite a fun and enjoyable cheesy scene. Though it's the typically-clichéd hunting-the-shark- in-open-water finale, the action there is still so much fun with the different luring methods to effectively get the creature out to sea and finally get the creature after them resulting in some fun deaths, a couple of really exciting tactics to combat the shark and numerous suspenseful chases that take place for a big rousing finish.

The cast here is fine for this type of feature. Rachele Brooke Smith as the main lifeguard Gina serves this nicely as the type of fearless, gung-ho leader that's usually found here, oftentimes rushing into dangerous situations simply because of her sense of duty but it's a fine role regardless here. Her friends, the typical group of snarky loud-mouthed photogenic types that have to be coerced into doing the slightest bit helpful to any situation even though it does nicely manage to offer up some sympathy towards them when they get into danger. It's also always nice to see Jeff Fahey turn up here, and his grizzled shark-hunter Rottger may seem too obvious and familiar but the enjoyment's still the same. Coupled with some fantastic burn marks with all the radiation scares featured throughout here, these here are quite enough to make this a great entry.

Again, the main element that holds this down is the same usual method of problem that usually affects these movies in it's utterly ridiculous and beyond lame special effects usually associated here. The CGI utilized here is up to their usual atrocious standards with the obvious pixelated images cropping up throughout here but also still in the wrong perspective in the frame to really settle upon any kind of positive interaction when they're featured and it really does take a lot out of the fun with such a wholly unappealing effort especially since we're exposed to it from the start as it's mere seconds of the opening of the film. Likewise, the film also struggles slightly here with the government agency aware of the creature, as there's a strong thread in the first half about they being responsible for a cover-up but yet nothing is done about it and is just summarily dropped without much explanation. Otherwise, this one serves as another fun killer shark effort.

Overview: ****/5
Overall, this is one of the finest and more enjoyable of these SyFy Channel original shark movies, which manage to offer up plenty of action-packed cheese that the channel offers in spades. Give this one a chance if those types of genre features or are into these cheesy channel offerings, while those who have no tolerance for the cheese on display should avoid completely.

Deep Blue Sea 2 (2018) by Darin Scott

Director: Darin Scott
Year: 2018
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Sharks

Plot:
Brought onboard a top-secret project, a scientist joins the floating aquatic platform where the true nature of the procedure takes place where they soon realize that their test sharks have become far more intelligent and turn on everybody there, forcing them to find a way to get away alive.

Review:

For the most part, this was a somewhat disappointing and unremarkable effort. The main issue with this one is that there's the unmistakable feeling of familiarity present here as the film is essentially a remake of the original and really renders a lot of the antics here quite moot due to that. The storyline here is essentially the same thing, involving a scientist brought to a top-secret research project in the middle of the ocean where they learn of a plan to alter a shark's behavior through genetic research. When they get stuck in the facility and the entire group becomes trapped inside, they realize they've got super-intelligent killer sharks on their hands that behave much differently than traditional sharks which forces them to have to find a way to survive the dangerous beings. That is a complete rip-off of the original and even forces this one into ripping off many of the same sequences verbatim as that tends to raise so much awareness of the situation taking away the surprise from the situation.

As well, there's also the overly obvious feeling of being done on a cheap without a whole lot to really offer in terms of its budget. That starts with the CGI present, which is completely atrocious and full of the usual low-budget nature that's usually found in these films as they never once really interact with their environment or shake off that digitized look so common to the genre. On top of that, the shrunken size of the lab, the continuous shooting in the narrow corridors that never once look like a facility layout of this type or the general air of the film which manages to just give off this closed-off feeling of a low-budget set without really laying any kind of traditional high-quality setup throughout here. On top of that, the film also commits the cardinal sin of low-budget fare by stalling for time with out-of-place speeches to help eat up plenty of time without doing anything special, and together these here really lower this one.

When this one manages to work, a lot of that comes from the expected areas in a killer shark movie. That lies in the attacks presented here which feature some fine brutality, from the opening attack on the illegal fishermen where they first display the enhanced intelligence, the first sequences of the creatures getting loose as the chain-wave of action that starts the flooding process is quite fun and to the sharks launching their attacks in order to keep them trapped which gives this some solid action at times here. With the second half offering up a near non-stop series of attacks against the dwindling crew, this provides the odd suspenseful moment or so as well as getting some nice gore mixed in which helps to make this somewhat enjoyable giving it a solid pace in the best moment possible. With a finale that generates plenty of action and some thrilling attacks throughout here mixed with some nice surprises along the way, there are some nice elements at play here which manage to make it watchable even with all the flaws holding it down.

Overview: ***/5
Despite a few rather dubious issues throughout here, the fact that there's some solid and likable moments here manages to offer up enough positives to lift it up over those flaws. Give this a chance if you're willing to overlook the flaws and dive straight in on this entry, while those who can't put away those more glaring negatives should definitely heed caution and stick with the original.

Bikini Swamp Girl Massacre (2014) by Aiden Dillard

Director: Aiden Dillard
Year: 2014
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: Hell Glades
Genre: Slasher

Plot:
Preparing for a camping trip, an all-girl group of friends heads into the Florida Everglades for a special tour of the area only to run afoul of a vengeful Native American spirit intent on making them pay for trespassing on his land and must fend off the crazed attacks to escape alive.

Review:

This was a rather decent enough slasher. One of the few positives here is the rather joyful glee that accompanies the majority of the attacks here, which is pretty common throughout the film. Setting up the idea of the crazed Indian who offers up plenty of confrontations with the group allows this one to partake in some rather fun encounters with him out in the swamplands attacking and hacking up the girls in brutal ways. The gore in these scenes are quite brutal in concept yet lamely realized in execution, yet the manic intensity and over-the-top glee with these scenes are infectious enough to make this interesting, as well as allowing this one to maintain a fine pace to be entertaining enough to keep going. Along with the fine nudity on display, these are what hold it up over the film's flaws.

Among the many negatives here is the rather low-budget nature of what's presented here. There's very little here that looks natural or realistic, from the laughable gore and stalking scenes that waste the opportunity to have some suspense in the Indian's sudden attacks to the completely illegal way it appears they just filmed the whole film in one location. It's all quite obvious that this was filmed in such a manner which causes this to look completely patently fake and gives this such a cheesy atmosphere with the near impossible manner to have the events here come off as reasonable or logical.

As well, the other flaw here is the rather comical and over-the-top killer who's so impossible to take seriously that it might borderline on dull rather than frightening. Not only is the rampage completely underdeveloped with stories changing depending on who's talking about the killer, but the way it manages to warp around the killing methods seem just too outlandish for the type of film conceived which allows this to become excruciating more than anything. Not only does it have a completely comical look but an irritating killer which isn't the best way to make a slasher effort and is what really keeps this one down.

Overview: * 1/2/5
For the most part, this is quite a disappointing and rather weak genre effort that remains watchable enough if you're into this type of cheesy, low-budget effort. Really only give this a chance if you're an aficionado of these cheesy, sleazy low-budget indie fare, while those who prefer anything other than the kind of flaws present here should seek psychological help for inflicting this upon themselves.

WTF! (2017) by Peter Herro

Director: Peter Herro
Year: 2017
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Slasher

Plot:
Heading back to her hometown, a young woman initially attending a friends' party in the wilderness finds herself subjected to another massacre after having survived a bloodbath several years earlier and must use the resources she learned previously to help save her and her friends.

Review:

This here wasn't all that bad of an effort. One of the more enjoyable elements featured here is the fact that this one really lets itself go with a rapid-fire pace that is highly engaging. Due to the short running time here, this one doesn't have much downtime where it stays really straightforward for large sections here, as the opening pool party doesn't have much beyond the need for their introduction and setting the excuse for their trip and from there it doesn't really let loose since there's little in the way of pacing issues once they start on their trip. Since the inclusion of the interviewing process is included among the time to help speed it all along there's a convenient excuse to move it along, that helps nicely to give this a somewhat intriguing and enjoyable pace.

As well, the film also manages to include some incredibly enjoyable slasher set-pieces that really make this one quite fun. Starting with the remnants of the massacre at the beginning with the last remaining victims as well as the intercut sequences of the different events around her triggering the incidents of the past in the second incident, there's some solid groundwork laid-out here for going into the series of encounters in the final half. That features a slew of rather fun stalking scenes around the darkened house as the figure comes out of the darkness for some surprise attacks, leading to the confrontations in the game room, the surprise brawl in the bedroom and a fine solo attack that features some brutal action as this one leads into a somewhat decent finale. Overall, these here are what hold it up over it's flaws.

One of the biggest and most egregious flaws here is the utterly unlikable and just plain awful group of main characters that are just completely impossible to get into. This is among the candidates for the most unlikable group of so-called friends in the genre as they seem to exist solely to curse constantly, screw each other over at the drop of a hat and basically only there to get bumped off as nearly everything here makes you want them to get killed. The fact that they constantly force out opinions that cause everyone around them to call them perverts, openly cheat on their girlfriends all in the name of getting sexual satisfaction from somebody in the group and then waving around the exploits of cheating on each other instead of banding together to survive their ordeal as they know a killer is on the loose stalking and killing them makes them completely unlikable and despicable.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the film's incredibly low-budget nature manages to undermine this at various points as well. Not only is the house cheaply furnished and just pathetic looking as a location to be, there's almost no money for any kind of traditional slasher work to be offered here. The stalking scenes, regardless of the action they pump into the pacing, are just rather limp and lifeless for the most part and keep the film from really exploiting what could've been a fun little slasher idea. The kills are shot in such darkness you don't know what's going on and even the aftermath is pretty crudely handled for the most part, and the budget as well manages to hold the finale's twist from diving into a real shock since it doesn't hit with any kind of impact. There's not even a competent idea at play in the sequence, and for the most part it holds this one back the most along with the other big flaw.

Overview: ** 1/2/5
With a couple of rather prominent and overly-detrimental issues that crop up throughout here, this is a somewhat problematic is still slightly entertaining slasher piece. Give this a shot if you're in the mood for a basic, low-budget indie-styled slasher while those who prefer more substance to their films should heed caution.