Feeding Grounds

but with ambiguous creatures instead of a witch; and a side of pro-veganism. That pretty much sums up 2006' "Feeding Grounds," a micro-budget horror flick about eight bickering youths in Southern California who get stuck in the desert and encounter the unknown.

To get anything good from "Feeding Grounds" you have to be able to acclimate to its low-budget style and limitations. I did and was able to find some rewarding elements, but it's mainly a tedious and one-dimensional barely-a-budget horror flick. Despite the lack of funds, there's some evidence that the filmmakers have talent. Parts of the movie have an eerie, arty ambiance in a good way. So the filmmaking is noticeably better than the do-it-yourself amateur (non)tone of the similar "Delirium," which came out just after "Feeding Grounds."

There are a couple of things that make the movie worth investing in, like the voluptuous redhead in the opening act, Rachel (Rebecca Gannon). Unfortunately, it's just a glorified cameo and you have to endure an eye-rolling lesbian romance sequence to appreciate her. Secondly, and more importantly, there's a notable rock/metal song that plays during the end credits. While the credits list the five or six songs that appear on the soundtrack I was unable to pinpoint which is the one that plays during the final credits. It's obviously a no-name band, but it's outstanding; very creative.

The eight youths that make up the cast are diverse and believable in their roles, not spoiled college kids, Just ordinary people, but they're only so-so interesting; and mostly not. If the script was tweaked they might be more compelling. Plus there are no real babes aside from the aforementioned Rachel from the brief prologue. Still, I appreciated the distinctions between the characters and their overall realistic portrayal.

As for the attackers or creatures, it becomes clear that they have a way of initially infecting the victims via some kind of bite or sting (or whatever) which makes them sick, semi-drugged ripe prey. Now and then you'll hear a radio broadcast that provides info on what may be happening – unknown disappearances in the desert and the theorizing thereof, which is reminiscent of the occasional TV broadcasts in 1968's renowned "Night of the Living Dead."

A few plot holes: Why do the creatures allow the police to come & go without attacking them? Why does one driver refer to the lack of "exits" on the highway when it's a two-lane road, not an interstate? Speaking of the road, why is it paved with people occasionally driving by and then mysteriously morphs into a dirt road and (I think) back again?

The film runs 82 minutes and was shot in Southern California.

GRADE: Borderline C- or D+ (3.5 out of 10)

...but director Junior Bonner just didn't manage to fully utilize the full potential and turn "Feeding Grounds" into a properly entertaining movie. The movie dragged on at an excruciatingly slow pace and very little happened to liven up the movie or bring it into a proper pace.

The whole unknown supernatural thing that was going on in the desert and changing people was interesting, but it was savagely cut down by bad direction and with a myriad of one-dimensional characters that you never rooted for or formed any kind of bond with.

I am sure that the actors and actresses were giving it their best performance, but they were badly hindered by a lack of detailed character gallery and everyone were essentially just playing one and the same character.

There weren't all that many special effects throughout the movie, but what was there was alright and served their purpose well enough.

However, for a horror movie then "Feeding Grounds" just didn't stand out or leave a lasting impression in the genre. If you enjoy horror movies, then there are far better movies available worthy of your time and money.

Two cars full of twenty-something friends head out for an excursion into the desert, passing many abandoned cars along the way. Little do they know their own cars are about to be abandoned as well...

Feeding Grounds is ultimately a frustrating film. As viewers we don't get a single glimpse of the creature(s) who have entrapped the characters. (Unless you count one clawed hand.) It seems the characters are drugged and confused by their attackers, for they continually turn off of the highway onto the same dusty road, and some seem to hallucinate. But your guess is as good as mine, if you dare to watch this film.

The acting is, for the most part, well above average for a low-budget film. Special effects are sorely lacking, except for a few bits of gore. Only the occasionally artistic camera shot kept me from falling asleep.

If you like watching college kids bicker, and hate the sight of monsters, this is the movie for you.

Are you looking for a movie where nothing happens?

Seeking one of those group of 20 somethings go somewhere and bad things happen to them but don't want any actual content or unpleasantness like you know......deaths?

If you answered yes to the above questions then Feeding Grounds may well be what you're looking for.

Now Braindead studios movies are hyper low budget films and generally pretty poor, over the years they've made wall to wall horror films usually with T&A to keep peoples attention. Lately however the last few movies I watched of theres didn't even have that.

It tells the story of 8 20 somethings who go into the desert and fall foul of something, I say something because it's never explained and you don't see jack. They begin to get ill, turn on each other and that's basically the movie.

Slow paced, full of wretched characters and with ultimately nothing happening this is one of the worst Braindead features I've seen.

The Good:

Has its moments

Concept isn't entirely terrible

The Bad:

Inbalanced audio

Unlikeable characters

Amateurish cover art

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

The number of fond memories I have of early Braindead movies maybe the same as the number of nipples on display

This is a small production with unknown actors that focused on making a desert stalking thriller movie.

The plot is a well known Monster movie trope. Young friends on a road trip take a wrong turn, this time across a particular stretch of desert. . .and run into an unknown terror that picks them off. I call it a 'Monster Stalker' because the focus of the plot isn't the Monster, it's how the STALKING affects the Victims.

First plus-- the group of friends are just that-- a group of friends. Not College Students. Not Spoiled Rich kids. Just ordinary people.

Second plus-- some may look at the acting and think--"Oh this is gawd-awful". But look again: They are portraying their characters to the letter. A bunch of normal guys who are friends with the usual personal issues. A young ladies with aspirations for the future. None of it really overplayed. I especially give a star to the young lady playing the whiney pink girl: You are ANNOYED at her, not because you're saying 'Oh corny cliché', you're annoyed because she IS the 'Scared Whiney girl'. And the other women characters are varied-- but not the usual stupid teen slasher characters. You can empathize with them.

Third Plus-- The Monster, or monsters (plural), is NEVER revealed. You glimpse hints, movements and gruesome gobbets. All nicely placed. Keep an eye out-- they are quick and simple-- but they arouse goosebumps all the same. And I have an itchy sense that the Monster is not just a single thing-- the attacks begins with a bite from something else, something small and insecty. Ewww! And there are the ominous abandoned cars on the roadside. This production doesn't bust the bucket with a guy in a rubber suit. Instead, you are left with your imagination, which is fueled by the growing realistic desperation of the people in the cars as they run out of gas. Then water. And no-one comes to help.

Try this movie out on a Saturday night-- this one a is Mondo Horror treat.