PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Lynn Lowery is a horror legend, having starred in George Romero’s The Crazies and David Cronenberg’s Shivers. Recently I was given the opportunity to check out one of her latest films, Guile Branco’s A Halloween Feast. I really didn’t know what to expect going in but I’m glad because it definitely took me by surprise.
Synopsis
As Angela Long, a former dancer, descends into madness, her dysfunctional family tries to cope the best they can. Their lives collectively spiral into of chaos, including, a sadomasochistic power dynamic, and a bloody endeavor where a dinosaur may or may not be present. All of the skeletons will come out at a Halloween night feast.
A Halloween Feast was directed by Guile Branco from a script they wrote with Arthur McClen. The film stars Lynn Lowery (Shivers), Julia Coulter, Guile Branco, Lou D’Amato, Asia Lynn Pitts (Altered Perception), Pancho Moler (Three From Hell), James Griggs, Nika Khitrova (Blood From Stone), Jackson Leighton, Raja Deka, Della Maylan, Joe Guintu, Dustin Gene and Mary O. Bremier.
A Halloween Feast was a very pleasant surprise. The film follows a family trying to come to terms with their mother’s worsening mental state. Things start off innocently enough, with their mother displaying eccentric behavior post retirement. They escalate steadily, and bloodily from there.
Watching Lynn Lowery in this movie was an absolute treat. You can tell that she is having a blast playing Angela, the murderous matriarch and her role is equal parts darkness and fun, without becoming too campy. Julia Coulter plays her daughter Karen, who is dealing with her own troubles, mainly a sexually harassing, drug peddling boss named Cudjoe, played by the always entertaining Poncho Moler (who gets some great dialogue and humorous moments) and a new relationship with the mysterious Mark, played by Guile Branco, who works as entertainment for kids parties.
She’s friends with Susan, the affectionately nicknamed Goth Girl (my absolute favorite character in the movie “It’s a vibe”) played by Asia Lynn Pitts, who needs Karen’s virgin brother Stuart for an unknown ritual. That’s not even half the movie’s characters and subplots. If it sounds like a lot, it is. But not in a bad way. Things connect a tie together in beautifully twisted ways.
I really appreciated how the film almost felt like a horrific murder filled soap opera but filled with humor and interesting characters. Everyone is connected in some way and it leads to some really fun interactions and some really shocking twists and revelations. The film is well written, has some great dialogue and is intricately plotted without becoming too convoluted. The special effects are executed well and the kills are wonderfully staged, leading to one hell of a conclusion.
Final Thoughts
A Halloween Feast is a hell of a debut for director Guile Branco. He makes the most out of a talented cast playing an interesting group of characters, delivers a story full of twists and turns and delivers the red stuff in spades. I highly recommend A Halloween Feast for your Halloween viewing.
It’s now available on VOD.
