Review of Hell Fest (2018) by Davrosdaleks1 — 27 Sep 2018

It's nice to see a couple of new slashers this year. Yeah, I know horror can't be stagnant and has to change. However, it's fun just to sit back and enjoy the simplicity of people just trying fend off some guy who is trying to kill them.

Hell Fest isn't the greatest slasher ever made. It doesn't reinvent anything and the story is rather basic. Still, it is very entertaining.

The movie follows the characters as they flee the titular horror-themed amusement park, which is the true star of this film. You don't mind the scenes that don't have the killer or action in it, because the place is so much fun. I'm surprised at the amount of production that went into this. This isn't the case of a small area and the characters having to run through attractions introduced earlier in the film. Every location is new. Every employee costume is new. All the scares are new. Hell Fest, the park not the film, truly feels like a true amusement park one could step into. (Alright, the bathrooms are immaculate, but that's the only difference.).

Director Gregory Plotkin was originally an editor and it shows in his eye for the audiovisuals. Cinematography and music are really strong here.

The scares don't stand out too much. (Though there are a couple pretty good kills here.) But it is pretty thrilling. Although there isn't anything too original about the killer, a guy in a mask and a hoodie, the movie does a good job of portraying him as dangerous and cunning. Instead of having him just pop up, the film follows him and one can only watch with apprehension as he stalks the cast. (You do wonder why he never runs into staff when he sneaks backstage, but it is a minimal issue.) The fact that he can blend in so calmly is pretty unnerving.

The story is bare bones. The main character's major problem is that she's been drifting away from her friend, which is only second to the dead relative cliche. The dialogue is basic. (The exhibition at the beginning is pretty weak.) But, once they're hanging around the amusement park, I didn't care. The actors were clearly having fun and one would like to hang with them. Overall, I really enjoyed myself.

P.S. Blair Butler contributed to the script. Remember her? She used to appear on G4. She'd guest host sometimes on X-Play or Olivia Munn's Attack of the Show.