Director: Dan Lantz
Year: 2024
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Slasher
Plot:
Trying to run a successful farm, a series of indiscretions made by the locals force a farmer and his friends into a make-or-break case to keep the farm out of their hands, and when he decides to show them what the farm means with a hayride tour chooses to enact a vicious plan for revenge.
Review:
This was a really fun genre effort with a lot to like about it. Among its better qualities here is the strong opening setup that provides this with a fantastic launching point for the festivities to come about. As we get a big introduction sequence here getting an idea of the hayride with the celebrations he sets up for everyone, the treatment by the locals who want to see it shut down, and the resentment by the authorities who want to take it away from him, it sets up a rather fun dynamic to get everything going on a strong start. Since everyone in the group has decided on how to treat the property and what they want to do with it, his desire to keep it running with the help of his friends and other family members comes together for a great time here.
The plan to keep this farm together, ensuring the locals see the festivities of their central plan which is immensely fun. Taking the time-honored role of preparing a bunch of gags and displays that are supposed to be fake but are patently the group genuinely taking out the local hoodlums who have been tormenting them by disguising everything in the form of gruesome-looking effects, this is quite fun and engaging. The idea of the performance pieces here taking the shape they do with the various setpieces and interactions that the group are done one by one which is handled with the kind of zany energy and outlandish glee at what’s going on that helps to sell what the group is doing. As everything here has a nice bit of gore and creative kills due to the setup, there’s a lot to like about this one.
There are a few issues to hold this one down. One of its few issues is the main concept at play here where the plan to pull everything off doesn’t come off all that logically or realistically. The plan to go through with the genuine torture and fright that plays out here is immensely complicated and takes a lot to go through and not get caught which is far removed from the sake of consistency it makes for a tough time believing the plan. That becomes especially true when there’s nothing here about what drove the plan together as everything here just tends to come off with the kind of explanation for it to make sense or why the group would go through with it. On top of also taking on so many cliches and overly familiar character tropes to try to make this one work, it’s the few issues that bring it down.
Overview: ****/5
A generally likable and worthwhile genre effort, this one has quite a lot to like about it that manages to keep it up rather well while there are only a few issues to keep it down. Those who are intrigued by the premise present here, enjoy this kind of indie feature in general or are fans of the creative crew will have a lot to like here while most others out there should heed caution.
Comments
Post a Comment