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[BD Review] Excitement Stumbles In ‘As Night Falls’
Ever need something on for background noise? Today I recommend to you As Night Falls. The 2010 film, written and directed by Joe Davison, has finally hit DVD! What’s the premise, you ask? Well, there is this house and long ago some people that lived in it decided to kill their kid. Fast forward to present day, they return from Hell to keep killing!
Holly and Elizabeth are sisters that live in the house where 10 year old Amelia was killed long ago. Why was Amelia killed? I am not sure. Why do the ghosts decide to attack the sisters and everyone at the party they throw? I don’t know. What I do know is that the two actresses, Lily Cardone and Deneen Melody, along with the rest of the cast, are truly amateur thespians.
The acting is bad, yes, but the manner in which it is bad is something that always leads to this type of review. A lot of bad actors – especially those in horror films – think they are actually good actors. Once you throw these types of people into a recycle storyline (in this case think The Ring, but not nearly as good), it will always lead to this type of review. And perhaps the story itself, and scripted dialogue, could use a good edit to make it more comprehensible. Yes, but even still, the acting would not improve. It is simply a lost cause.
Production wise, As Night Falls is not bad. Even the bad CGI on a scale of 1 to Sharknado, is about a 5. It is truly amazing how a bad movie can look and sound fine, despite the fact that I’d rather have my teeth pulled than have to sit through it twice. The DVD includes Behind the Scenes footage, some ten minute short feature called ‘Dude & Pennywise’ based off two characters from the movie (that I didn’t understand at all), a trailer and a photo gallery. Then there is a 6 minute music video for the title track of the film, also called ‘As Night Falls’ – performed by Dirty Black Halo. You HAVE to look these guys up, NOW. No, really. It is no surprise this music video is included as the most jarring aspect of the film is the soundtrack. The music simply doesn’t flow, jumping from dramatic synthesizers to the thrashing guitar solos of this song whenever something mildly dramatic happens. If the acting doesn’t bring you out of the element, the music will. The video even features clips from the movie!
Wait – is As Night Falls just an expanded version of music video??
If so, in this case, I recommend the video over the movie. That is, unless, you like having your teeth pulled.
Get ready for double the fun, protagonists, and body count when Ready or Not 2: Here I Come explodes on streaming next week.
Just in time for the fireworks, the sequel makes its streaming debut on Hulu and Disney+ on July 2.
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett are back, along with Samara Weaving, for more hide and slay mayhem.
Picking up moments after the all-out attack from the Le Domas family in the first Ready or Not movie, Grace (Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
That means a higher body count and even more explosive carnage. Just how much? A whopping 325 gallons worth, the directors previously told BD.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga, and Daniel Beirne also star.
I wrote in my review for Bloody Disgusting, “More is more in Ready or Not 2. Bigger stakes, larger playing field, a higher (and more gruesome) body count, and even double the protagonists. It’s all designed to deliver maximum crowd-pleasing fun.”
The horror-comedy sequel is written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy.
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