Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have brought a really good Halloween slasher horror to the screen with Halloween Haunt, which is very reminiscent of good films of the genre from the 90s in long stretches. The basic story and setting are simple, the surprise twists in the plot were to be expected, but still well directed and the actors are solid to good. The horror scenes are not innovative but well executed, the blood factor is high but does not overshadow the atmospheric effects of horror and creepiness that find their way into the viewers psyche through well written individual scenes, scary staging and good makeup and costumes. The set design is fun and almost hits the nail of the theme on the head.
A group of psychos, unfortunately only explained in rudimentary terms, chase young people through rooms of horror in specially created houses of horror. The teenagers are as naive, or dumb, as you know it from classics of the genre, the forces of evil are so twisted, confused and cruel, as they can only scare you, watching this film on a dark, rainy evening at home. But also in the cinema, with friends and a burger and a Coke afterwards, this simple, but definitely wacky film is certainly fun and that despite some obvious weaknesses, such as missing explanations for plot motivations, deus ex machina moments and the very strong reliance on slasher moments to mask some plot weaknesses, such as the weakness that the clowns don't really take care of their haunted house, or the fact that the whole story would fail if a person just claimed not to have a cell phone to hand in before entering.
Katie Stevens handles her lead role well, being sympathetic, vulnerable and strong all at the same time, trumping her lead role in the horror film "Polaroid" (2019) from the same year.
Beck and Woods definitely have potential in the competitive world of horror directors to earn spots in the top third. This more than solid, exciting, if not entirely well-rounded film is definitely a big step in the right direction.
A group of psychos, unfortunately only explained in rudimentary terms, chase young people through rooms of horror in specially created houses of horror. The teenagers are as naive, or dumb, as you know it from classics of the genre, the forces of evil are so twisted, confused and cruel, as they can only scare you, watching this film on a dark, rainy evening at home. But also in the cinema, with friends and a burger and a Coke afterwards, this simple, but definitely wacky film is certainly fun and that despite some obvious weaknesses, such as missing explanations for plot motivations, deus ex machina moments and the very strong reliance on slasher moments to mask some plot weaknesses, such as the weakness that the clowns don't really take care of their haunted house, or the fact that the whole story would fail if a person just claimed not to have a cell phone to hand in before entering.
Katie Stevens handles her lead role well, being sympathetic, vulnerable and strong all at the same time, trumping her lead role in the horror film "Polaroid" (2019) from the same year.
Beck and Woods definitely have potential in the competitive world of horror directors to earn spots in the top third. This more than solid, exciting, if not entirely well-rounded film is definitely a big step in the right direction.