Monthly Archives: October 2012

LA Horror Review: “The Employer”

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Finding a job these days is tough, especially one that actually pays the bills. The search could even be described as a “true horror story” for some; even if you do land an interview, often you can get beat out by a more qualified candidate.  Frank Merle, the writer and director of the new horror thriller, “The Employer,” takes this idea to a whole new level: in this interview, you either get the job or die…

It’s a now classic set-up.  Five strangers wake up in a locked room.  Before long, they realize they have something in common: they have all recently interviewed for a position at the mysterious Carcharias Corporation, and today is supposed to be their final interview. Unbeknownst to them, The Employer (Malcolm McDowell) has a very sinister way of choosing the perfect candidate for the job.  You see, at Carcharias Corporation, having a well-rounded resume is only half the battle.  What’s the other half? It’s killing the competition before they kill you first.  Last one standing gets the job of their dreams…

The great part about a film like “The Employer” is that it takes a familiar premise and gives it its own unique and rather intelligent spin.  Yes, pitting people against each other in a locked room has created some pretty grisly horror films, but “The Employer” isn’t about the gore; it’s about the characters.  Merle creates a group of very fleshed out young professionals who have every reason in the world to try to get ahead.  It’s more fun to get to know the characters first before they’re brutally murdered as opposed to watching strangers get hacked up; it makes for a much more satisfying viewing experience.

But while Merle crafts characters who are undoubtedly justified in their reasons to despise each other, he also brings out strong performances by five very talented actors. The scenarios he sets up for these interviewees are amplified by their terrific performances.  Everyone brings something to the table, and everyone has a secret.

James, played by David Dastmalchian, is our Everyman and is wonderfully naïve and hopeful that in this terrifying scenario maybe, just maybe, nobody has to die.  It really feels like at any moment Dastmalchian could break out and become a recognizable face for frequent moviegoers, and a film like “The Employer” certainly allows him to show some great range.  Opposite him is the beautiful Paige Howard who plays the kind and caring Sandra.  It’s hard not to root for these two; their chemistry is strong, especially when the going gets tough.

Mike (Matthew Willig) tries to silence the trash talking Keith (Michael DeLorenzo) much to the horror of the level headed Sandra (Paige Howard)

Juxtaposed against this optimistic, seemingly level-headed pair are our other three captives: the sexy and ass-kicking Billie (Katerina Mikailenko), the bruising and massive Mike (Matthew Willig) and the loudmouth Kieth (Michael DeLorenzo).  Five very different people in one nightmarish interview, “The Employer” creates a tense and unnerving experience that gets to be a real free for all with plenty of twists to keep you guessing who’s going to get the job.

Which brings us to our last and most important piece of this puzzle: The Employer himself, Malcolm McDowell.  As the puppet master of this whole scheme, it’s extremely fun to see The Employer get inside of the heads of these characters and find out exactly what makes them tick.  It’s always fun to see McDowell play a bad guy, but in “The Employer” he’s even more dementedly charming than usual.  Every time McDowell is on the screen he steals the show, which is understandable given his ultra-talent.  He embodies the mission of the Carcharias Corporation and adds a level of mystery and intrigue that we can only hope for a sequel (or two) to expand upon.

Only The Employer knows the secrets of the Carcharias Corporation…

And maybe that’s the real reason this movie was so enjoyable: the fact that it asks more questions than it answers.  While Merle’s intentions for making this film are unknown, “The Employer” raises a lot of questions not only about its own reality but also our own, and frequently plays with moral questions that we deal with on a daily basis.  How often do we see people doing anything to get ahead of the competition, or a massive corporation treating its employees like pawns in its own sinister game?  Merle has created a film that is modern, violent and full of nasty twists, “The Employer” grabs you and won’t let you go.

Lastly I’ll leave you with this, the same thing that Merle told me before I watched the movie and the thing that probably intrigued me the most:  at the end, only one person walks out of that room alive…

Be sure to watch our exclusive interview with filmmaker Frank Merle.  For more about Frank Merle and “The Employer,” visit the film’s official website.  Be sure to check out “The Employer” on Facebook.

LA Horror Review: “The Cohasset Snuff Film”

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Does life imitate art or does art imitate life?  It’s a tricky question, especially when you apply it to the world of horror, given all of the atrocities that happen on a daily basis all over the world.  Director Edward Payson‘s “The Cohasset Snuff Film” blends the fictional world and the real world together, giving us an up close and personal look into the mind of a serial killer in a chilling way.  At times, it’s hard to determine if what you are watching is real or merely the fantasy of a couple of disturbed but talented filmmakers.

“The Cohasset Snuff Film” is real, or so they say.  The film begins with a pair of documentarians as they uncover the secret tapes of Cohasset, Massachusettes best kept secret:  serial killer Colin Mason.  You see, Mason killed three girls in 2009 and had the good sense to get it all on camera.  In a quest for infamy, Mason compiles a series of video diaries plotting, and executing, his plans for inflicting pain and torture.  Now you can see the footage for yourself in every horrifying detail.

This film is a tender reminder of just how fucked up this world really is.  With murder sprees and serial killers seemingly popping up all the time these days, this film feels relevant.  And this is certainly one that will attract the morbid curiosity of both experienced and novice horror viewers.  And when I say novice, I mean the kinda of kids that sneak horror movies into their slumber parties, that watch them when their parents aren’t watching or don’t know.  I say that because the killer in this film is in high school, and what sort of normal adolescent hasn’t fantasized about murder at one time or another?  This film will no doubt be a dirty little secret for many viewers.

But while the idea of this movie hits close to home, our lead character is a little harder to sympathize with.  I always like rooting for a killer.  It’s fun and makes you feel a little guilty.  Yet, the one thing I felt was missing from this film was a strong motive for this killing spree, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.  Colin Mason is obviously resentful of his fellow humans for the typical reasons – being ignored, abused and picked on, however we never really see any of that on film.  While we do learn about the human side of our killer through classmate interviews, psychology studies and the police reports, the face to face time with Mason is long past his days of being “normal.”  It’s less of a descent into madness as it is being just thrown into the mix right before shit goes down—and shit does go down.

The great thing about “The Cohasset Snuff Film” is its raw intensity.  There are no jump scares or cheesy twists.  This film is grounded in reality and the murders are real.  Some mad props go to these actors who certainly had trust in director Edward Payson and believed in this project.  Their trust will no doubt be rewarded as this film will certainly be getting some pretty big attention in the near future.  I say that with no hesitation, because this film has all of the right pieces to be an underground hit.

On a hilarious side note, supposedly some people in Cohasset, Massachusettes are pretty upset that this film has been made.  Now, why they are upset is up for debate.  Maybe they don’t want their town to have a bad reputation, or maybe they just don’t want to be associated with something as nasty as “The Cohasset Snuff Film.”  Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a little more truth to this film than originally thought.  That’s why I recommend you check it out and decide for yourself.

If you are living in the Los Angeles area, the world premier of “The Cohasset Snuff Film” is fittingly this Halloween in North Hollywood.  You can purchase your ticket here.  If you’re not in the Los Angeles area, the film is beginning a self distributed theatrical run in limited cities.  If you want to see this film in your area, then visit this page and demand to see “The Cohasset Snuff Film!”

LAHorror.com has previously interviewed director Edward Payson about this film and other horror projects.  You can read that here.  Be sure to check out “The Cohasset Snuff Film” on Facebook and Twitter. 

The Rhythm is Gonna Get You………

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We had to share this – this is a pretty good spoof on the classic song “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You” by Gloria Estefan.  Don’t know it??  Check it here.  But for all of you gore hounds that love and adore and cherish and appreciate the amazing music by Gloria Estefan as much as we do here at LAHorror.com, you’ll certainly enjoy this:

That rhythm got you didn’t it??

Check out more from Grumpy Panda at their official website.

LA Horror Review: “An American Ghost Story”

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Curiosity can be a dangerous thing.  It’s the cause of many problems for people in horror films and something that can ultimately become deadly.  How often do we see someone investigate a strange noise, pursue a forbidden curse or, in the case of “An American Ghost Story,” the new film from 2 Man Production, knowingly invite themselves into the home of a malevolent spirit?

Paul Anderson (Stephen Twardokus) is an aspiring writer who’s trying to get it together.  You see, Paul has never finished anything he’s set out to do, and with his new idea he’s more determined than ever.  Unfortunately for him and his girlfriend, Stella (Liesel Kopp), his new idea involves moving into the home of a recently murdered family and trying to communicate with its restless spirits.  Before long, both Paul and Stella realize that they are not alone and certainly not welcome…

The set up for “Revenant” is simple, but the execution is fantastic.  What filmmakers Derek Cole (director, producer), Stephen Twardokus (producer, writer, actor) and Jon Gale (producer, actor) have done is create a bare bones story that still manages to scare the piss out of you with a “less is more” mentality.  Wait, I take that back— “less is more” may not be an accurate way to describe this movie, because it is FULL of legitimate scares.  From your classic jumps to your slow, sinister sequences, “An American Ghost Story” keeps you on edge from the very first scene until the last.  It’s tense as hell and doesn’t let up.

What works about this film is its overall creativity in the things seen on screen.  As a filmmaker myself, I was perplexed as to how these guys pulled off some of these sequences.  There are no CGI ghosts in this movie, and the practical effects are ridiculous and always frightening.  From the spirit rising out of the bed sheets to an entire kitchen erupting in rage, the ingenuity behind the camera is this film’s most impressive feat.

Paul Anderson (Twardokus) has a naïve curiosity with the spirits in his house…

Yet, all of the horror elements in “Revenant” are amplified by Cole’s stellar direction.  His choices to make slow zooms, subtle camera movements and some clever editing always keep you in anticipation.  Every scene has the ability to give you frights and, trust me, most of them do.  Cole is clearly well-versed in the art of suspense, and fans of classic ghost stories such as “The Haunting” or “Poltergeist” would certainly enjoy “An American Ghost Story.”

While this film is exceptional in terms of the talent behind the camera, without good performances all may be for not.  Luckily for “An American Ghost Story,” it’s cast, though small, all pull their weight and add to the overall success of the film.  In particular, our leading man Twardokus plays the over-curious writer believably, and you can clearly see the shift in him when he realizes that he’s in far over his head in this house.  Liesel Kopp as Stella is the most relatable of the characters, given the fact that she is the rational of the two and is far more afraid of these spirits than her boyfriend.  Kopp really shines when things get rough.  Her panic and fear are felt through the screen.

“An American Ghost Story” is damn scary, and that’s no joke.  My advice to you if you get the opportunity to watch it:  give this movie the respect it deserves.  That means phone off, lights off, popcorn and a beer.

For more information about “An American Ghost Story,” please visit the films official website.  You can also check out “An American Ghost Story” on Facebook and Twitter.  Actress Liesel Kopp was LAHorror.com‘s first featured artist.  You can view her story here.