Movies
[BD Review] Cultish Thriller ‘Jug Face’ A Creepy Slow-Burn
Moderncine is a company that should receive more praise than it gets. They’ve become the model for consistency, delivering a flurry of well made independent films over the past few years (including The Woman, Offspring and Ghoul). The 2013 Slamdance Film Festival played host to the world premiere of Jug Face, a cultish thriller from producer Lucky McKee and director Chad Crawford Kinkle.
The pic, which re-teams The Woman stars Lauren Ashley Carter and Sean Bridgers, follows a large backwoods community who live their lives by worshipping a pit. The pit is their God, and apparently one that is very real. There’s a treaty in place, where a semi-shaman, played by Bridgers, is given a vision to sculpt the “next” sacrifice on a jug. Said face is to be executed to the pit. Failure to comply makes the put angry, and hell ensues. You get the idea.
Jug Face feels really small, in a good way, and captures the essence of this tiny group of worshippers. It’s aesthetically similar to other Moderncine movies; it’s a look that gives the film quality and technical shows expertise. Although, it’s carried by strong performances, and a few explicate shots of gore.
If anything, Jug Face fits into the world of May. Although someone else directs the pic, it feels much like a Lucky McKee film. Knowing this, fans should expect an insanely bizarre and creepy slow-burn with a lot of good ideas, and precise execution. It also harbors the lesson: don’t fuck with the pit…
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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