HEX is an indie studio operating in Scotland known for making micro to low-budget horror and genre films. They have repeatedly proven that the lack of financial backing from major studios doesn't mean that indie films have to stink.
Quite the contrary. Their films have been consistently made with a passion for filmmaking and storytelling, which is truly the hallmark of the studio.
Ghost Crew barely shows its indie roots, though there are tells. The film showcases surprisingly exceptional talent in front of the camera, above and beyond most indie films in the market. The lack of star power does not detract from the story at all.
The premise of the story does dabble heavily in haunted house/hospital tropes, but is presented in a way that is utterly charming, most of the charm bolstered by the bumbling main character of Tom, played wonderfully by screenwriter Tom Staunton.
The character Tom is the creator of a paranormal investigation television program called Ghost Crew, in which he and his cameraman and friend, Michael, investigate known haunted hot spots. This leads them to an abandoned, ruined children's hospital wherein lurks a spirit bent on vengeance for wrongs committed years prior.
As they investigate, they are led on a harrowing journey that escalates to life-threatening levels as those associated with the hospital, a heinous crime, and a cover-up meet their demise. Why are they dying? Who is responsible? Will Michael and Tom survive to uncover the truth?
Luckily, Tom Staunton doesn't seem inspired by David Lynch enough to leave the ending ambiguous and up for interpretation. We get a definitive answer and resolution, even if the ending seems telegraphed very early on.
For a film called Ghost Crew, I would have loved to have seen more of the haunting stuff, but again, the budget constraints lend the storytelling more of a tell, don't show vibe. It's a detriment in that large exposition dumps tend to make the move drag. Long stretches of dialogue are broken by quick bursts of violence and action, only to cut back to more exposition.
Despite this, Ghost Crew is beautifully filmed and marvelously acted. Tom Staunton delivers some seriously restrained emotion; you can sense the palpable dread and, even in one scene, the crushing heartbreak and trauma the character is experiencing. It's good to see an indie film where actors can shed tears, not dry cry.
Another standout is Megan Tremethick. She is talented, beautiful, and honestly is on the verge of breaking out. I would be SHOCKED if she remained solely in indie horror, though filmmaker/director Lawrie Brewster should utilize her in everything he does. She is definitely muse-worthy.
In all, the 86-minute runtime is perfect for an indie horror film about a haunting. In that time, we easily get our fill of dilapidated buildings, meetings in the woods, and exposition dumps to move the story to the finale.
Ghost Crew is competently made and extremely well-acted but lacks in the scares. Though, being long-desensitized to horror after a lifetime of consuming everything in the genre might have more to do with that than anything. But I can't help but recall how amazing the ending of Hex's "The Unkindness of Ravens" went, descending into sheer madness. I hoped we would have gotten the same payoff, but kudos to not being formulaic!
In the end, this film is solid on all fronts and I enjoyed it immensely. And for a few bucks purchase price, I definitely got my money's worth.
