Review of Hell Fest (2018) by Milhouse V — 01 Oct 2018

In terms of a horror flick, the reviews are pretty spot on--Hell Fest doesn't break any new ground and instead follows the treads of its predecessors to become a very average film that will likely get a boost from Halloween crowds but will ultimately be lost in a sea of mediocrity beyond that.

However, one thing about Hell Fest is that it does seem to be made by people who genuinely enjoy and respect the genre. There are a thousand little details that pay homage to some of the classic (and more effective) horror films that have graced the silver screen (including a cameo from Tony Todd) That being said, where this film falls short is its seeming desperation to become a franchise.

The masked unnamed villain DESPERATELY wants to be a Michael Myers or a killer from Scream and DESPERATELY wants its own killer mask to be just as iconic as the aforementioned movies. Unfortunately, the killer loses any menacing quality is has by constantly humming "Pop Goes the Weasel".

The end result of all this is a film that is ironically too scared to step out of its comfort zone and be its own movie. Even the amount of blood, guts, and gore are at a pedestrian level for what is presenting itself as a slasher movie.

For those with a bloodlust seeking a thrilling scare ride, this will stimulate your appetite but will not provide you the satisfaction that the iconic films Hell Fest is trying to ultimately pay homage to.