Lore

Saw this last night at the Tees Valley International Film Festival at the Arc in Stockton on Tees.

No huge budget but they were able to tell the four stories really well.

The acting was pretty decent and the effects were well done.

Set around a campfire with four campers each telling a tale with the Night King, Richard Brake holding court as the very creepy Darwin.

I particular like the opener 'In The Shadows' which had a very good monster. A bit of a nod to Alien set in a poorly lit warehouse and a guy trying to escape a couple of gangsters and finding they were the least of his worries.

The ending to this was quite clever.

The other three each had their moments and overall it was nicely shot.

Rufus Hound as a swinger and Bill Fellows as the night watchman in #1 were well known names but the rest of the cast not so.

But everyone did a good solid job.

The TVIFF has been showcasing new talent all week and this a very good example of what can be achieved even without Hollywood style funding.

Well done to all involved.

A group of friends camp out and tell scary stories. A guy meets with two thugs whom he owes money to, and a monster shows up. A mother and son move into a new home and are haunted by an ethereal woman. A guy signs up to wife swap but ends up in a cult ritual. A masked killer shows up at a movie theatre.

It's low budget, but well-acted, shot, and scored, with some effective scares and practical FX. The stories are a tad predictable and there was a pair of annoying non-resolutions. The final story has some inside-jokes for movie buffs.

It's worth a go for horror fans, but there's nothing especially remarkable about it.

I knew this wasn't going to be the best of horror films when I chose to watch it. When Richard Brake took the screen, I was happy. I just wish there was more of him.

There was actual humor and Easter Eggs, which I appreciated. The special/make up effects were good in some places and really lacking in others.

I am already looking forward to Lore II if the movie poster was any indication of future plans!

The acting was pretty good. I do not have high standards after a handful of flicks I have watched; characters were believable.

When it comes to anthologies, like Tales From the Crypt, I am a fan. Any monotony is broken up by the change of theme. The writers did a good job of making each tale very different from one another.

Needs more Richard Brake. His talent adds genuine creepiness that you can't just learn. His role in the movie was appropriate and done well!

I gave this movie a 6/10

Note: The dancer's teeth were too perfect.

I gave this anthology an extra star for Richard Brake alone, maybe the best character actor in horror...and the most underrated. If you want proof, go to YouTube and check out his Doomhead monologue, from 31--another case of Richard Brake being the only good thing in a mediocre/bad movie. This is standard mid-size town horror festival anthology. Acting isn't terrible but the only believable, only menacing character is...Richard Brake's character, of course. Four young people meet Brake's character in the woods--no I don't know his character's name--for a "once in a lifetime experience".

Basically, they're taking turns telling scary stories around the fire. First segment isn't bad; a little predictable, but the acting was okay. Second segment was kind of pointless. The third segment was okay, I like the black humor and the nod to folk horror (obvious nod to Kill List) and the last should appeal to slasher fans...not my favorite subgenre, but I know I'm in the minority.

He biggest problem with the film is that Brake is so believable when the other characters were pretty much very unbelievable young adults (why the hell would you follow and extra-creepy Brake into the woods for an unnamed "once in a lifetime experience"?).

Filmmakers, I'm begging you--give this man the horror movie he deserves. He is effortlessly sinister in that uneasy still way that is far more realistic and far scarier than some screaming maniac. He's the only thing worth watching in 31. He was the scariest character in Barbarian. He was funny-creepy in Mandy. But for the most part, I find myself watching unworthy movies just to see Richard Brake. As far as this movie goes? It's not awful. Not even that bad, by Tubi standards...but it isn't nearly good enough to waste a perfectly good Richard Brake.

I wasn't expecting a lot out of this since most anthologies I've seen are a mixed bag of good & bad short stories. The setup was good & the stories around the campfire gave me 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' vibes.

I've never seen Richard Brake before, but his performance was great. His few lines were well spoken & his facial expressions really gave him the proper creep factor. I wish he'd had a bigger role.

The other actors did fine. They were able to make their roles as friends gone camping believable.

The stories told were ok to pretty good. My favorite is the movie theater one. That one had the best acting & best antagonist in my opinion.

The frame story leaves much to be desired. The synopsis is misleading since the consequences are vaguely shown in a blink & you'll miss it scene & whatever happened to the story tellers is left to your imagination.

SCORE: Frame Story - 4 Tales - 6 Overall - 5 Recommend - Watch on Tubi if you're interested. If you miss it being free I suggest a cheap rental, like $2 max.