Beckoning the Butcher

Beckoning The Butcher is a bare bones, low budget Australian gem, that while obvious of its budget, didn't stop director Dale Trott from using all the resources at his disposal to create a successful found footage horror movie.

In the US the film was released under the title The Butcher Possessions, and can currently be viewed on Amazon without additional charge for Prime members.

Beckoning The Butcher is the story of Chris Shaw (Damien E. Lipp), a social media personality who performs rituals he finds on the web. Wanting to increase his viewership, Chris invites four friends to a weekend gathering in a desolate countryside home where together they will participate in a ritual called Beckoning The Butcher.

For the ritual, participants must write their name on a piece of paper, dab a drop of their blood next to their name and then burn the slip of paper while chanting a Latin phrase. The completed steps are said to then conjure the butcher.

With two video cameras recording at all times; one set up in the house and the other carried for POV, Chris's hope of capturing even just a small moment of paranormal activity becomes more than he bargained for when the butcher shows up with a plan of his own.

The main moments of Beckoning The Butcher are bookended with a backstory via sit down interviews by a family member, a psychic and a sheriff-all of whom add a well rounded linear structure to the narrative.

Beckoning The Butcher (or The Butcher Possessions, depending on where you live) is the perfect party night or Halloween night scary movie.

Yet another "found footage" paranormal flick. It's like every one of these you've seen before. The sort of movie one is likely to forget having seen as it fades into the background with all like it. 😴

I liked that they nestled found footage into a documentary with interviews. The film was entertaining and eventful, which can't be said of many other films in this sub genre.

A group of five head out to stay at one guy's abandoned parents' summer home to video the Beckoning the Butcher ritual for his internet show. This gem is just what the horror doc ordered. Good and gripping. This possession plays with time much like Blair Witch did. It's a pretty safe bet that any legacy from that FF mega classic is going to be on point. This legacy in particular is great because it is so subjective, which, after all, is what the entire horror universe is about, nay? Ing the Butcher.

A group of five head out to stay at one guy's abandoned parents' summer home to video the Beckoning the Butcher ritual for his internet show. This gem is just what the horror doc ordered. Good and gripping. This possession plays with time much like Blair Witch did. It's a pretty safe bet that any legacy from that FF mega classic is going to be on point. This legacy in particular is great because it is so subjective, which, after all, is what the entire horror universe is about, nay?