Campfire Tales

Definitely not only for urban legend aficionados, Campfire Tales is an often scary and always fun ride through several popular stories. It is also a film that exceeded the (low) expectations I had. A horror film I had never heard or read about, a straight-to-video release (granted, the latter often presents us with a pleasant surprise, but with horror films nowadays it can be all or nothing), a cast of mostly unknowns... well, I'll leave the math to you.

The film proves to be an entertaining, suspenseful and overall very enjoyable experience. The four stories are well-paced and satisfying. The only one I felt was a little weaker was "The Locket", for the simple reason that it offers almost no explanation for its plot or the characters' actions; however, I still loved the tale, its atmosphere and ending. My favorite one was the third story, "People Can Lick Too" - the suspense in it is not only palpable, but also educational.

I found Campfire Tales to be one of those horror gems one discovers by chance, and then goes on recommending it to everyone.

7/10

The Honeymoon.

The first segment is based on a different version of The Hook. It's somewhat similar to the urban legend, with a couple going to an isolated area with an unknown killer lurking around. One thing they added is a random local man who appears and tells them a creepy short story that gives off an unsettling vibe. The segment does a good job build up the tension to it and is somewhat suspenseful. The scene with the killer is terrorizing. Valerie is creepy, but the noises it makes are pretty stupid. The ending of the segment is similar to the urban legend. Overall, it's a decent one to start off with.

People Can Lick Too.

The second segment is somewhat similar to the urban legend itself. It goes through a decent pace and is built up pretty well. The scene with the chat room is disturbing because it revealed that the girl whom Amanda is talking to is an online predator posing as a young girl. Unfortunately, the two characters in the segment both sisters aren't that likable at all because both of them are bratty characters. The segment has pretty good tension with the predator stalking Amanda in the bushes, entering her house, and the garage scene. The ending is really similar to the urban legend itself. Overall, just like the previous segment, this is a decent one.

The Locket.

I don't know what urban legend this segment is based on, but it's about a young man who enters a farmhouse with a mute woman who lives there. Just like the previous segment, this one is built up nicely, and it is interesting to watch this. I think the character enters a place that is a time loop with an incident that repeats over and over again. It does build tension to it and is chilling on how it's executed. The ending itself is strange but interesting on the twist of it. Overall, another good segment.

Good (not great) little horror film with a high "creep" factor (not to be confused with a 1991 movie by the same name, or the more recent (2001) Campfire STORIES). Central tale of stranded teens telling ghost stories around a campfire in spooky woods nicely leads into, and ties together the different stories that make up the bulk of the movie (Watch for Ron Livingston (Office Space, Band of Brothers) and Jennifer MacDonald in a spirited, sexy segment ("The Honeymoon")). Solid acting and a few truly "scary" moments make this an above-average chiller. Good example of interesting story line, coupled with quality ensemble acting resulting in a whole greater than the sum of its parts. "Surprise" ending of the main story adds nice creepy twist, although some may see it coming. Movie is not available on DVD, but can be found on VHS.

While driving in a dangerous zigzag manner on a lonely road in the night, the teenager Cliff (Jay R. Ferguson) has a car accident with his friends Lauren (Christine Taylor), Alex (Kim Murphy) and Eric (Christopher Masterson). While spending the cold night stranded in the woods around a campfire, they kill time telling ghost stories. In "The Honeymoon", the couple Rick (Ron Livingston) and Valerie (Jennifer MacDonald) travels in their RV to Las Vegas in their honeymoon. Rick takes a shortcut to visit the Clayton Caverns in the night, but the stranger Cole (Hawthorne James) advises them to leave the spot since dangerous creatures attack people in the full moon. In "People Can Lick Too", on the eve of her twelfth birthday, Amanda (Alex McKenna) tells her Internet friend Jessica that she is alone at home. However, Jessica is actually a psychopath. In "The Locket", the biker Scott (Glenn Quinn) is crossing the country on his motorcycle. When he has a problem with his bike, he finds an isolated house where the gorgeous dumb Heather Wallace (Jacinda Barrett) lives with her father. When the man returns from his herd, Scott finds the truth about Heather.

"Campfire Tales" presents three good horror tales, with monsters, psychopaths and ghosts and a surprising twist in the end. The weakest segment is "The Hook", with Eddie and Jenny, but the other stories a great. The plot point is totally unexpected and gives a great conclusion to this above average horror movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazul): "Contos da Meia-Noite" ("Midnight Tales")

I originally posted the first user comment on this movie,and claimed it was crap and it didn't make sense.I Didn't MAKE SENSE. Campfire tales is a thoroughly enjoying film (now that im 2 years older and watched it last night).The actors were famous but not TOO famous. The acting itself was more than acceptable,it was rather good.I will rate the movie per segment of films. 1)The black and white scene (A.K.A-"The Hook") This one was rather pointless,it looked good,but didn't hold much grip at all,the only disappointing one,i don't think it was even included as a segment.Here is the scare-o-meter. (Poor) 2)The R.V Story (honeymooners stuck in woods) Possibly the most entertaining of all tales,the acting was good in this one too,disappointing bout the typical caravan sex scenes.Yet it was intriguing,you think "WHo was knocking on that door".It had suspense,and not too gory.Liked this one (Very Good) 3)Internet Chat Tale (Little Girl Meets Psycho) This was a smart addition,gore left at a minimal,frights left at EXTREME.Although dull at times,the last few minutes were most entertaining,don't get me wrong it was still fun to watch.Real creepy,and could happen to anybody,so watch who you're talking to. (Very Good) 4)Ghost Tale (Man kisses ghost)?? Not the best,it wasn't too atmospheric for a ghost tale.This one was strange,the aspects were rather good,playing music and the screaming,but everything was too real to be ghastly,although it was good,it was quiet bloody,and could have been better with that idea. (Acceptable) 5)The Ending (the 4 lost teenagers) These are the 2 attractive gals and guys telling the tales through-out the film.The best thing about the film is definantley the ending,it set a great impression,the ending was totally un-expected.Watch it,it was so well done,the realism was spectacular. (TOP NOTCH) 6)THE FILM OVERALL Campfire tales was more than i used to take it for,i actually like it so much now im buying it on video,cause its a truly entertaining horror movie forget the trash you see these days,like many,im disappointed that this didn't really go nowhere,it was straight to video,to me it was better than all the hype "horror" you see these days. Overall for Campfire Tales (Very Good) 8 out of 10