Most independent horror films are full of cheese....NOT this one!!!



Horror anthologies have always been my cup of blood. Whether they are in fiction form or film form, I am without a doubt drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Sometimes, like that moth, I get burnt. But, that wasn’t the case with Grim Films Drive-In Horrorshow, an independent flick directed by Michael Neel and produced by Greg Ansin.

Drive-In movie theaters are fast becoming a thing of the past, yet they still hold firm to the slasher and gore filled flick fame and therefore, this film, by utilizing the actual Mendon and Belmont Massachusetts Drive-Ins as a central concept location, is aiding in keeping this perception alive.

In the vein of Creepshow, Tales From the Crypt and Trick or Treat, Drive-In Horrorshow has been critically acclaimed by many horror based media outlets from Fangoria to Horror News dot net to Rue Morgue for all the right reasons and by including a cast of central players led by a host known as The Projectionist (played by Luis Negron), the film adds that old time Saturday Night Chiller Theater feel ala Chilly Billy or Elvira.

Although the tales may revisit classic horror scenarios, they are well done, imaginative, and refreshing.

Tale one, Pig, is a take on the classic “I Spit On Your Grave” routine that entails a scorned woman seeking revenge. The retaliation is both chilling and up-to-date.

The Closet explores the childhood monster-in-the-closet story, except that this time, the monster is truly real and aids the boy Jamie in creating a better life…at least until reality comes crashing down.

Fall Apart is a tale that deals with a gruesome flesh eating disease. But, where did it come from and can it be controlled is the real question.

The Meat Man explores two brothers who stumble upon circumstantial evidence…or is it?

And the final tale, The Watcher, incorporates two couples, a secluded campsite and a lake. However, this time there is no Jason and the hills certainly do have eyes.

In between each tale, the projectionist host employs his workers, the Teenage Axe Victim (Cyce Sadsad), who works the concession stand offering bloody popcorn while stumbling around with an axe sticking out of her back, Zombie Frank (Joe Lemieux) the ticket taker who sells only two tickets to two skeleton shadows that humorously complain about basically everything and Billy Troll (Bill Gage) an Igor type assistant.

But it isn’t simply the stories and characters that makes this film exceptional. Overall, from scene location choices to camera angles to sound quality to graphic gore, the cinematography is quite good.

If there is anything detrimental to say about it all, it would be the rare cases of occasionally cheesy dialogue. However, it truly doesn’t take anything away from the overall film and is certainly worth overlooking.

No, this is not your typical independent horror film. This one is considerably better and certainly worth a look…maybe even twice.

Watch the trailer on the website here