The Haunting of Heather Black (2025)

   

Producec, Written, Edited, Composed & Directed by: Joe Sherlock

Starring:

Kate Schmidt .... Heather
Connor Sherlock .... Alex
Ian McCready .... Ethan
Elizabeth Ming.... Tasha
Tiffany Beal .... Rocky
Donna Rooney .... Dr. Holly Lucas

Release Date:
Crypticon Seattle Film Festival: May 3, 2025

 

Rating:

 

A disturbed young lady Heather (Kate Schmidt) goes to an isolated cabin near an ocean to escape from her past but she somewhat feels that she is being haunted and has a deep dark secret that will soon be revealed.

 

Okay so the very beginning of the film tried to make things look mysterious and suspenseful with a camera looking up on the title character Heather as she shows frightened expressions but watching all of this as well as at the end of this first scene seemed a little too set out and wooden. The the opening credits start up.
Afterwards, Heather drives out to the wooded cabin by the ocean in which there's good close up shots on the waves as well as what Heather was doing and so fourth.
She thinks that she hears something strange in her cabin and takes some clippers while in acting cautious and being in fear. This was supposed to look mildly suspenseful but misses by a longshot. In other words all of this looked amateurishly done.
Heather is greeted by her retired Dr. Holly Lucas as their discussions flowed well by what they were taking about along with having a mysterious feel in this scene which I thought was necessary for when the horror comes in later on. It takes forever as I was wondering if this was a horror flick.
For fun Heather goes to a lesbian bar and meets up with Rocky in which some of this looked natural by what they were talking about as well as them getting into a romance. This seemed to look okay but when they are making out it looked a little too forced.
While they do a make out scene this looked incrredibly lame to watch as people who like some skin in their horror flicks will be quite disappointed although it suggests that they will take their clothes off but not quite.
Afterwards she starts dating guys as I was thinking to myself "Is she sitting on a fence??" This is totally fucked up. It made me continue to watch wondering to myself as what the hell is going on??? I'm still waiting for the horror to kick in as it's taking itself a long time.
In between these scene's however Heather starts to do some sketch art in which there was nicely focused camera shots on her drawing a picture and then she spots a drawing in the picture of the grim reaper so I thought that the horror is coming especially when she is startled after seeing this drawing.
She takes a stroll in a pond as the surroundings looked lit up as well as mysterious especially when she start to almost trip out. Then she is standing in a graveyard spinning around and looking at the tombstones. It made me wonder if she was dreaming or not. I had to admit that this momen looked mysterious and well done.
Then she sits by one of her dates who happens to be a heavy metal guitarist Alex. While she is talking to him the horror briefly comes in which involved the grim reaper although due to it's low budget the outfit doesn't look as creepy as expected.
The scene's get better and more intense as the horror kicks in when she is losing her sanity and acting psychotic to all her lovers along with being demanding or violent towards. I found this to be in great taste which saves the flick froom bombing.
The terror happens when the grim reaper pays a visit to her and tells her on what she did which shows some of the same scene's when she last communicated with her lovers but this time ends in a deadly matter which I must admit looked quite clever to watch as it unfolds these mysterious matters.
Bottom line is that this was a rather dull flick as it tries hard to entertain you with all the psychologival moments but it needed more inspiration. However, a better budget by the filmmakers of Skullface Astronauht as I will give them credit for trying their best here.

The acting is very wooden and a little over the top in which Kate Schmidt (Heather) didn't seem too natural alot of the times like when she wakes up from a nightmare as her reactions were mellodramatic. Also can't seem to act believeably romantic which shows big time. Yet when she loses control and acts crazy this was a bit of an improvement as someone whom is manic. Yet at times she gets a little carried away.
Connor Sherlock
(Alex) played the heavy metal musician whom is way too low on energy and wooden. Yet seemed to show off his stoner type of attitude but at the same time doesn't do well with his characteristics.
Ian McCready
(Ethan) was a bit better but not by much as he seemed to portray an okay dweeby attitude expecially with his discussions but when he pleads or stuff like that he is too over the top and very unnatural.
Elizabeth Ming
(Tasha) I must say is the best in the whole cast and a natural. She had the right looks and motives to portray a lesbian. Also was soothing and soft in her speaking. Plus was believeable when she acts flirtatious and charming too. Does well by acting stressed near the end of her performance.
Donna Rooney (Dr. Holly Lucas) was another fine character actress. Shows off a nice understanding personality as well as showing off a great calmness to her role. Plus had the right looks and appeal to her part which was another plus. She really studied this role incredibly well.

Persons head is stabbed.
Hammer is bashed into another persons head.

Joe and Connor Sherlock composed the music to this film and was impressed with their low budget horror sounds to the flick as there's great wavy and razor sounding synthesizer music along with good deep sounds too. Plus there's good deep bass guitar sounds blending along as well. At times some of the music I didn't care for but the rest I did and they both deserve good credit for all of this.