Cameron McCasland's upcoming indie slasher "The Lashman" is nouveau- nostalgia horror (totally made that up). The film isn't so much a throwback but an all immersed retro-lasher. Everything about the film is classic. The only new parts deal with camera tech and slasher legend. "The Lashman" builds a campfire boogeyman tale come to life with young campers on one last hooray in the woods.
The story of "The Lashman" really boils down to the legend of the Lashman. It is a fresh, new creation that is just as chilling and tragic as any other classic slasher that fills the hallowed horror halls of slashers, and one that I hope is embraced enough for future tales of terror. The legend, without giving away spoilers, is the story of a pioneer settler and leathersmith done wrong and granted vengeance through magic. The rest you just have to hear around the campfire as the cast in "The Lashman" hear the tale.
The main tale of the campers is a well written, and thought out story that is timeless in campground slasher films. Everything about it just screamed 80's, early 80's to be exact. Yeah there is some acting issues with some of the cast not feeling as strong about their characters as others but for the most part the commitment is visible and convincing. Overall the story and emotional connection build between the viewer and characters works a bit above the low budget scale so , kudos to the cast. Plus the direction and fluidity of McCasland's vision and execution of that vision in this film is quality work.
The effects in "The Lashman" between sound, and practical effects for kill scenes are split issues really. The sound quality is spotty, with noticeable issues throughout the film during scene transitional moments. Yet during specific moments of drama or action the sound is spot on calling back to the classic days of slasher horror. The practical effects used in this film stay that way, no CGI blood that I could see. And those death moments work completely and are actually well above the low budget expected standard. All in all I was pleased with most of what this film gave me, it entertained, paid tribute and offered fresh blood into the indie slasher genre. Actually if the transitional scenes in "The Lashman" would have been at the quality of the rest of this film it would have stood out as perfection.
Overall "The Lashman" is a great indie slasher that McCasland and horror fans alike should take pride in. It is a cool, retro and entertaining. It gives classic slasher, modern vision and brings everything that has ever worked in 80's horror, including nudity, together without being campy,tacky or a rip-off. I really enjoyed this film, it gave me that same since of pleasure that I get every time I pop in a early 80's slasher film. Check out "The Lasherman" it is worth embracing even with the sound issues during scene transition. It is a fun slasher film with plenty of blood and screams.
