What a gory and visceral film. From the start to finish there are incredible images of graphic horror, as each victim falls prey to this maniac serial killer named Jaknife. They locked him away for 38 years. They thought their walls could contain him. They thought their doctors could cure him. They were wrong. And now, he's home. They will pay. Hinkley, Alabama will pay. Because he's angry, and he's evil. That's basically it in a nutshell. He wants revenge, and oh man does he deliver! I love the characters, or should I say the many victims. The storyline is solid; a group of teens are graduating from High School, but, they have one more party to attend. We see the teens each have their own stories, which is great as it adds characterisation and helps us to invest in their characters, so much so, that when they become victims to Jaknife, we root for them to get out alive. No one is safe.
The scenes of horror are atrocious and of course brilliantly and artistically compelling! This movie is not for weak stomach individuals. For me being an avid reviewer of horror films, this one made me turn my head away from the screen in some of the murder scenes - which never happens to me. There are interesting camera shots to change up the scenes. I enjoyed the settings too. The build-up of tension and suspense are cleverly placed for maximum entertainment, adding depth to the storyline and the overall plot. The sound effects and music help to push the narrative in a fascinating way, adding texture to the film. Jaknife isn't messing around either, when he kills, he does so with so much vitriol the scenes looked realistic as hell. He's a terrible character with revenge on his mind. He uses whatever tool is around to inflict as much pain as possible. Though it would seem his chosen tool to use is mostly a crowbar.
Overall: This film is a golden gem of indie filmmaking. It will have you on the edge of your seat, as it did to me. This is LJ Davis's debut film, and for a first film, it's incredible! I am looking forward to watching more from this filmmaker in the future. Although this is pure slasher, it has a storyline, which is what I would expect to see from this type of horror. Gore is balanced out very well. There are moments of lividity, which helps to harmonise the film. You won't be disappointed. It's a golden gem of indie filmmaking. This is a film you don't want to miss. The atmosphere is dreadful, as the tones shift and change in a wonderful way to keep the viewer enthralled. Add this one to your watch list.
Reviewed by Del Gibson.
