Scary Tales: The Return of Mr. Longfellow

Our film review website was sent a screener of the "Scary Tales Collection 2 pack", which is set for major release later this year.

Having read some reviews for both films, I was interested in seeing what each entry in this low budget series had to offer.

To my surprise, both films moved at a quick pace and each offered their form of "entertainment". Now, why is entertainment in quotation marks?

Well, these little low budget features were oddities. For starters, despite being irrational with their narratives, they seem to intentionally tread familiar ground only to push a cliché so far before completely turning it in your face. Of course, the entertaining factor is the oddness of the production.

SCARY TALES: THE RETURN OF MR. LONGFELLOW

A review by Justin Dyer

5-24-2005

Part 2 in the series, captioned "The Return of Mr. Longfellow" - is a welcome return to campy horror. Instead of taking itself seriously, the film wisely plays itself for clichés and camp factor. Unlike other moderately budgeted independent features, this film doesn't try to "push the envelope", so to speak, in terms of brutality or tasteless imagery. To call this exploitation would be inane. This is clearly a case of a campy film suitable for all ages of the horror spectrum.

While the blood flows nicely and the special effects are well above par for a film in this budgetary range - the unusual array of stories create an arsenal of creativity rarely seen on this production level.

In closing, while this is by no means a perfect film, it does have something for every horror fan. Like most anthology features, it features three tales within a connective tissue - or the "wrap-a-round story" - and which you like best probably depends on which genre of horror you prefer.

It's funny - from all the reviews I'd skimmed through, certain critics were eager to trash the first story while praising the third - and vice-versa. However, the fact none can decide which tale is best would probably best describe how I feel. There is no good or bad tale. All are entertaining. Which you enjoy the most or dislike is clearly dependent on your taste in horror - and, isn't that what a horror anthology is supposed to be? Different?

Camp Value - 10 out of 10 Production Value - 8 out of 10 Acting - 6 out of 10 Screenplay - 8 out of 10 Entertainment - Value 10 out of 10

Overall

10 out of 10

Highly recommended

My husband and I purchased this at Screamfest in Florida, not sure of what to expect. The girl who talked us into buying was very friendly and oh, so cute (but it must have been cold in that outfit).

The movie was WAAAAY past expectations! For a low budget, this sure looked good - sound, sets, effects (even decent computer graphics). We bought this one with the original, and recommend that one as well.

Joe Estevez was outstanding. The final segment with him in it was actually pretty creepy, and the others were a riot!

Along with these movies, we purchased about 6 from the same show, and, so far, NONE of them matched the quality of production.

I think the director said they've changed distributors or companies a few times, or something.

One question - WHY isn't this in stores?

8 out of 10

I borrowed this from a friend who has a small role in the film. He said it is going to be released later this year.

I'm not a very big horror fan, and haven't really watched many films that are considered independent.

That in mind, I did enjoy this. Not as much as the original Scary Tales (I borrowed both movies), because this one is so fast paced. The first one took it's time going from one story to the other. This one is literally one joke after the other. Plus, it's a little bloodier than I usually like to watch (the original only had a few bloody scenes).

If you decide to get this, the third story is the best one. Joe Estevez is really good in that one.

The best thing about these movies is that they aren't as scary as the title implies. Although, if campy or over-the-top horror movies aren't your thing, I would avoid.

7.5 out of ten.

I thought this was a very entertaining film!I feel that i must write about this independent film because it should be given attention as it is quite a good movie. I enjoyed watching it and i love the song where the menu is.. Darkest Knight by beyond the shattered mirror. I will buy this movie when it is sold, and i will recommend it to my friends. It's much better then some of the movies i have seen in the theaters. Joel Wynkoop, (longfellow) is a very effective actor, i have seen him in other films and i always find entertaining and in very interesting parts. The way this movie is woven together is very well done , enter-twining 3 different stories with fairly good acting through out it. Good placement of music and ambiance to set the feel to this movie. I look forward to more from this director. Will there be a scary tales 3?

On the run from the law, the deranged story-teller working at a used-car lot finds his talents put to use telling a buyer about the various models he's interested in.

The Good Stor(ies): Dennis Frye vs. The Zombies-Working in a convenience store, a lowly worker tries to make a relationship work with his new girlfriend only to have his high-school bully continually interrupt his attempts. When he accidentally unleashes a zombie plague through the store, he tries to protect her anyway he can. This was a rather enjoyable and highly goofy entry. There's a lot of fun to be had with their slightly overlong courtship which has some silly moments, and the idea of the zombie apocalypse being carried out only through the means of a gas station is quite appropriately played for laughs more than anything. It plays the loosest connection to the concept of the anthology which makes it quite an odd placement here but overall manages to be one of the more entertaining.

The Bad Stor(ies): Charlie's Demons-Traveling to his therapists' office, a troubled man joins a group session in a run-down cabin ou in the woods before finally getting aggravated about the whole affair. As a strange series of events begins plaguing the group, they soon realize that someone or something might be hunting them down and must try to get away alive. This one had a ton of potential and really could've been a fun indie slasher effort but falls slightly short of the mark. The whole setup of the patients out in the isolated cabin and being picked off with the creepy groundskeeper and the doctor in charge of the whole session which has a lot to like with the way it starts knocking everyone off in the later half. The problem is the simplistic setup that doesn't make any sense and the lengthy wrap-up that really takes a lot of the suspense out of the story. This one really could've been a lot more fun than it is.

7:23-Stuck in the middle of the road, a lone traveler braving the elements finds himself forced into staying the night at a seemingly deserted hotel run by a creepy manager. Waking up in the morning to find his car missing and no means of transportation out, he slowly comes to realize what's really staying at the hotel with him. Frankly, this one really doesn't have much going for it. There's so little happening here with the focus either on him driving along the desert or wandering the halls of the hotel that this one feels insanely dull by comparison with an overlong running time building up a boring atmosphere. There's no real suspense about the situation and it doesn't generate any kind of action at all even with a few creepy images thrown in to pass this off as a horror entry. Beyond that, this one doesn't really work and has an even more tenuous grip on the concept of the anthology.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Violence, Brief Nudity and a mild sex scene.