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When you think independent horror the state of Minnesota doesn't automatically come to mind, but if more films like UNHOLY REUNION, written, directed and produced by Ric McCloud, come out of the land of 10,000 lakes that may very well change. When I found out this movie was shot in the small town of Shakopee, Minnesota, where yours truly spent some of her childhood, I was intrigued.
Was it kismet or was I about to experience another horror feature that gives it a good try but ultimately is like most everything else out there?
The movie starts out 25 years ago with two lovers (one of whom is Rachel Grubb who, in my opinion, is poised to become Horror's answer to Bettie Page) sharing a little afternoon delight. Unfortunately, for both of them, hubby decides to come home and crash their party. He doesn't just get upset, he turns into a psycho hell-bent on revenge and winds up killing them both and turning his wife's body into a stuffed and sewed up 'work of art', complete with painted images on her corpse. Two years after the murders we learn the crazed husband, Adkov Telmig, has not only killed the wife and her lover but countless others. He is arrested but somehow escapes the gas chamber and is given a life sentence. We also learn that Telmig and his murdered wife left behind a young child.
In the present day we meet Rebecca Davis and boyfriend Dixon (Jessica S. Lange and Stuart G Murphy) two recent law school graduates who are driving to see Rebecca's parents and partake in a party with friends and family to help congratulate the grads. What starts off as a happy homecoming however turns into a game of who can survive the night. It seems Telmig, nicknamed "The painter", has escaped from prison, is on the warpath and headed straight for the Davis home. Turns out Rebecca's dad, Daniel Davis, was the then prosecutor who put Telmig away. I don't want to give away too much but one of the partygoers is the spawn Telmig left behind a couple of decades ago. Remember the title?
Soon our camera-friendly youths are picked off one by one. Twists and turns follow (including one at the end that I didn't see coming) and what could have been a formulaic movie turns into something different. Telmig is never explained away as some guy who just loves to mutilate, there is a method to his madness. In his eyes he is taking individuals who are soulless and turning them into something, works of art to be admired and even loved. There is a lot to like here but what really stood out for me were the impressive fight sequences. I don't know if they were seriously choreographed moves or the actors just really beat the crap out of each other but it works. Genuine jump moments, nice effects and quality acting only add to the entertainment. Cameos from Troma's Lloyd Kauffman and American Movie's Mark Borchardt, along with some snappy one-liners and an original way of getting to the liquor store, help give the movie some humorous moments and give the feeling that this movie was as much fun to make as it is to watch.
There are a lot of independent horror movies out there today. It seems anyone who is creative and can hold a camera can channel their inner Craven or Carpenter and shoot a horror movie. I support, heck, I am in awe of that process. As I have stated in other articles, It takes a lot of guts to make a movie, the sacrifice, the money and the time. Deciding to do that is a huge commitment and although the process is admired, sometimes watching the final product is like getting a root canal. Luckily for the viewer, UNHOLY REUNION isn't one of those movies.
'Reunion' is one of those movies that are reminiscent, to me anyway, of the video's we would rent in the 1980's, distributed by companies like Midnight Video or Vestron Home Video. Back when the video boxes were the size of cereal boxes and the videos were rented in weird places. (Joe's bait and tackle shop/video store, anyone?) It just has a certain feel to it.
Mindless gore and boobs are fun but why not add a little storyline and substance every once and awhile? UNHOLY REUNION is the perfect pizza and beer movie with friends. A whodunit wrapped in a horror movie.
UNHOLY REUNION will be having a screening in Minneapolis, MN on the 30th of October at The Riverview Theatre. For more information visit http://www.ricmccloud.com/ or go to the Riverview Theatre website
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