Director: Anthony Ashmore
Year: 2019
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Anthology
Plot:
Presented in a special drive-in style, a series of shorts and public-domain interludes presented as a full-length experience.
Review:
On the whole, this is a pretty solid idea and has a lot to like. The usually risible idea of placating a distinct fanbase with the grainy VHS look and feel, complete with tracking adjustments and static in between the numerous transitions, comes off okay here which is a fine touch and greatly appreciated. The dreamy synth score and visuals are a fantastic advancement of that atmosphere, and when combined with realistic public service announcements and commercials that play during the intermissions but also leading into the shorts themselves that make the immersion in that part of the video rather enjoyable.
The main thing here is that it doesn’t really transition to anything all that smoothly so the introduction of the various shorts is somewhat jarring and takes a while to realize that’s what’s playing. When it does dawn on you that you’ve started in on a new segment, that backtracking of realizing what’s gone on since it started means it skips a few minutes of work and that doesn’t bode well for the continuity and immersion needed for this kind of project. That also doesn’t help that these shorts, already of a brief length, are interrupted by old-tyme advertisements and promos when the atmosphere is at its best point.
The segments themselves aren’t that great but do prove watchable. The first one “The Intruder” has a nice atmospheric build with the strange disappearances that crop up, but the pacing is all over the place and the finale is a foregone conclusion making it feel redundant and cliched which could’ve used a little more time to get everything together easier. The second story “The Suburban Incident” is way too modern to fit in with the old-school and feels completely out-of-place as a result even with a chilling story at its core.
The second half's shorts are far better. “Return of the Slasher” is a solid and highly enjoyable simplistic slasher story that utilizes the house’s locations to great effect and has some great stalking present which feels quite in league with the period and what was being made at the time. Finally, a public advertisement showcasing various recipes for Halloween-themed homemade treats is unique, novel and informative considering many of them look rather edible. That this is the finale of the whole thing makes for a rather enjoyable finish.
Overview: ***/5
An interesting concept that somewhat lets itself down with some underwhelming stories that do feel in tune with the vibe and atmosphere present but still come off slightly disappointing in the end. Give this a chance if you’re a complete retro-fanatic or nostalgia crazy for these projects, while those that don’t find themselves drawn to these throwback-styled genre pieces should heed caution.
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