Hell Fest (2018)

   

Edited & Directed by: Gregory Plotkin

Written by:
Seth M. Sherwood, Blair Butler & Akela Cooper

Story by:
William Penick, Christopher Sey & Stephen Susco

Starring:

Amy Forsyth .... Natalie
Reign Edwards .... Brooke
Bex Taylor-Klaus .... Taylor Ann Smythe
Christian James .... Quinn
Matt Mercurio .... Asher
Roby Attal .... Gavin

Special Appearance:

Tony Todd .... The Barker

Release Dates:
Theatrical: September 28, 2018; Monster Fest: November 24, 2018 (Australia)

 

 

Rating:

 

A masked serial killer turns a horror-themed amusement park into his own personal playground, terrorizing a group of friends while the rest of the patrons believe that it is all part of the show.

 

The beginning looked impressive with three teenage girls entering the funhouse while there's a black screen with the opening credits. The characters in the house were convincing as it reminded me of theme parks in California I went to during their Halloween events. Plus it's a real brain teaser wondering if the killer is one of these performers in which the suspense piles up.
Then it's Halloween day as a group of friends get ready to go to the theme park as the moments here were very energised.
One of the friends Taylor Ann Smithe discusses with her friends whom is also doing a gig there ablut a real slaughtering incident that really happened there which remains an unsolved mystery as this was done in a fair minded effort in order to think that the terror will come later on. However, it needed a bit more inspiration.
While the friends enter the theme park there's the character whom is named the Other as we spot him what looks like a part of the show that he's murdering a woman which drew me in thinking that he really is murdering someone. This is for sure a real brain teaser wondering as to what is real or not. A focused moment with one of the friends staring at this situation and feeling unsure which looked well done.
The Other steals a teenage couple's pictures from a booth as it draws in the horror making you wonder if he will stalk and kill them later on in the flick.
One of the friends tries to track down the Other to get those pics back in which there's a foggy shot on a fence as well as some sort of shack in which things were still and silent with this killer humming. This moment looked mildly spooky and making me wonder if this kid will be his next victim.
While the kids all go to the funhouses there's great shots on the people dressed up to scare their customers as well as other situations which looked powerfully done in which it was convincing with employee actors doing their job at a Halloween event.
Meanwhile the Other faces one of the friends and really gets into a killing moment by using a hammer on his head and must admit this was a great slashing moment. People that enjoy Michael Myers type of a killing or even Leatherface may find this mildly amusing.
When Natalie go on a ride through another haunted house her ride breaks down as an announcement let's them know there's some technical issues occuring. This for sure left me a clue that this maniac will do her in next. This for sure was a bone chilling moment. Definetely to any slasher fan would know that she would be a great target with this scene written into the story.
The Other finds his next victim and how he kills this next person was well concentrated and it doesn't look pretty at all.
To make matters worst is when Natalie and her friends tries to tell security about a murderer on the loose and tells her it's all an act on what they do as this for sure draws great frightening tension by knowing that the killer has it easy to do people away since so much is going on.
Taylor volunteers her time to volunteer herself to take part in the attraction with the horror shows by being a victim in a guillatine for an audience as this gave me the chills by having a deep dark feeling with the killer coming on stage to do his part with the deadly object. Natalie tries to stop the show as all of this kept me watching as to what will happen during this scene. It was quite suspenseful.
However, after all of this the story start to lack with the killer stabbing others and trying to find the rest of the survivors in the maze and so fourth in which this needed a bit of a push to spark things up. The ending was strange as well leaving a door open for a sequel as well.
Bottom line is that the flick tried hard to be horrifyingly entertaining with a killer on the loose at a horror theme park but it didn't quite cut it. It does seem a bit interesting at the start but near the end of the flick we've seen moments like this before. Not a bad film but not that good either.

The acting is fairly decent but only certain one's stood out so I will do my best here.... Amy Forsyth (Natalie) seemed to shine on quite nicely as the leading cast member. She does well by reacting to situations. Plus shows off her intelligent attitude. Shows off nicely with her frightened behavior as well as showing great energy and aggression when the terror really starts off.
Bex Taylor-Klaus (Taylor Ann Smythe) had the most effective supporting role as a wild type of chick ready for a challenge. Was impressive with her energetic and spunky behavior. Knew on how to interact with others. Plus does a great job freaking out near the end of her performance.
Christian James (Quinn) drew nicely with his presence as a boy next door type. Also shows off a nice calmness to his behavior. Came across as someomne likeable and easy going towards others. Shows off some decent charactertistics indeed.
Matt Mercurio (Asher) showed some energy and pizzaz as someone who's into action with his onscreen girlfriend. Was well focused on making out with her. Plus shows some nice action while trying to get out of a maze. Really brought his intensity to a hype when the killer strikes at him.
Tony Todd (The Barker) has a nice cameo in the film as the host of a freakshow. He really knew on how to act loud as well as someone just wild by what they were talking about. He for sure drew a nice versatality in this one compared to his other work in which he does a good job in regardless.

Head is bashed by a sledgehammer
Eye is stabbed out
Bloody stabbings here and there

Bear McCreary composes the music for this piece just like he did with the Walking Dead series. The odd times there's some slick echoey and screechy synthesizer music for the beginning of the story with some girls going in the funhouse as well as later on in the story which is catchy. However there's electronic music here and there in other funhouse mazes which I wasn't impressed with. Yet the odd banging sounds with the killer creeping up on someone seemed to have worked in.