Hallowed

I thought for sure I was going to regret buying this film after the DVD caught my eye on the shelf of my video store, but I took the gamble anyway being the horror fanatic that I am. First of all, I recently bought Harvest of Fear and Heebie Jeebies (other indie horror films at the same level) and hated both of them. Hallowed, although I didn't love or anything, did hold my interest and by the end of the film I found myself thinking it wasn't that bad. The acting needed to be better, but I thought the filmmakers did a decent job and the music was great in my opinion. So all in all Hallowed is a decent horror film and I'm glad I got a copy.

I caught this film in New York and have to say that for what I was expecting I was pleasantly surprised.

As with any slasher, the story isn't overly complicated, although it does make you (the audience) ask a few questions, and unfortunately (or fortunately however you look at it) some of those questions aren't revealed. My guess is that the director did it that way on purpose and maybe the DVD will have all the answers.

Most of the actors were believable, with the exception of the dude playing Gabriel who was stale and weak, but the picture/audio/lighting and music were all very pro. There are some creepy moments in the film and a few classic pop out scenes as well. It's definitely worth checking out.

Or so it was supposed to have been. Changes of screening times & dates were merely the icing on the cake of problems that the baja film festival had. Needless to say I was very disappointed in how they handled the event. However, this comment is for Hallowed and to the makers of this film whom I chatted with that night. You asked for my opinion so here it is.

First of all, I love all kinds of films and don't judge them by budget or format. If it's a well made film then I'm happy. Hallowed really caught my attention from the beginning. The slow crawl through the "secret locations" (I won't spoil it) was creepy. The flow of the film was decent though there were many moments that were just too dark. I'll take the director's word for it that it was the festivals poor projector. Still, I found myself caught up in the story and wanted to stick around to see what happened next. The music and especially sound effects were perfection. If there was one element that needed improving, it was the killer's stale acting. I could not tell if he was speaking like that on purpose or if he really needs more acting classes.

Nonetheless, Hallowed is definitely a "must-see" in my book. I wish it and the makers much success.

This film was definitely worth the wait. I've been looking forward to the DVD for several months and now I am glad to have bought it. Hallowed is kind of like all the old 80's flicks with an interesting twist. Gabriel gets messed up in the head after seeing his mom blown away by his dad and then grows up believing he's been sent from Lord All Mighty to kill. There are some cool pop out moments and times where you crack up in laughter. Seriously, this is my kind of horror and I think more should be made like this. The pace of this film does seem to zoom by fast so pay attention, cause it's over before you know it. But if you're like me and like the classics of Halloween/Nightmare/Friday, and the rest of those old slasher killer movies, this is a must see.

What sets hallowed apart from other films I have seen that could be considered a "B" movie? Well for starters, it overuses every cliché in the book, and does it with class. The killings? they're cheesy beyond belief, and the ending? WOW is all I can say. I laughed, I jumped, I thought, and I trembled. The film was shot on digital, which worked perfect for the film because of the flexibility it offers. Deep down I know it wanted to be serious, but it was so hard to do so. The dialogue invoked chuckles, the acting was stiff, and the plot, well lets say you could eliminate some walking for some solid prologue and epilogue space. BUT. That said, I enjoyed watching this film from start to finish because I expected nothing and received a pure gem. I would recommend this film to anyone who likes horror or "B" movies.