The Roost (2005)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

Ti West

Writer:

Ti West (written by)

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

CAUTION...If They Bite You...Kill Yourself!

Plot:

Part of a "special" late-nite television program...Four friends on their way to a wedding find themselves marooned on a mysterious farm. Creatures of the night awaken and the undead rise, as a night of relentless horror...Begins! |

Plot Keywords:

Police | Elderly Couple | Gun | Barn | Brother Sister Relationship

Cast

Tom Noonan	...	The Horror Host
Karl Jacob	...	Trevor
Vanessa Horneff	...	Allison
Sean Reid	...	Brian
Wil Horneff	...	Elliot
Barbara Wilhide	...	May
Richard Little	...	Elvin
John Speredakos	...	Officer Mitchell
Larry Fessenden	...	Tow Truck Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Hamilton	...	Duncan (Radio Show)
Graham Reznick	...	Local DJ (Radio Show)
Heather Robb	...	Aubry Promise / Fake Shemp
Mary Schmidt	...	Sally (Radio Show)
Ti West	...	Professor (Radio Show)

Runtime:

USA:80 min | Argentina:80 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

UK:18 | Argentina:18 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

ECR Productions

Trivia:

The barn used in the film was also used in the Alfred Hitchcock film Marnie (1964).

Soundtrack:

I Raise Hell

Horror film-making for dummies; lesson one.

With "The Roost", young writer/director Ti West (the guy's only one year older than me, damned!) proves that making your own horror movie doesn't necessarily has to be unrealizable dream! On the contrary, it's actually the easiest profession in the world just as long as your ambitions don't reach much further than telling a fun story and paying tribute to the B-movie industry of the 70's at the same time! And if that happens to be what you're expecting to see as a viewer, this really isn't such a bad little gem after all! The plot is incredibly basic, telling a story that features absolutely no surprises, no twists and no red herrings at all! Four adolescents on their way to a friend's wedding take the stupid decision to try a shortcut off the highway and face engine trouble in the middle of nowhere. When they arrive at the only farmhouse for miles around, the place is congested with bats that turn people into bloodthirsty zombies. The elderly couple and the helpful police officer are the first to die, but the kids will unquestionably follow next… That's it, nothing more!! There's no explanation given to the origin of the zombie-virus spread by the bats (or why it's specifically spread by bats in the first place), no attempt to find a solution and not even a reasonable ending! Not only the script but also the technical aspects of "The Roost" are as primitive as can be. The cinematography is monotonous, with loads of traditional pans and fixed camera angles, and the editing is handled like a routine job. The make-up effects are occasionally nasty, though, with a satisfying amount of blood and guts. The most remarkable aspect about the entire production is the 70's throwback narration style. Underrated actor Tom Noonan ("Robocop 2", "Manhunter") stars as the ghoulish host – a sort of Crypt Keeper, if you will – who briefly introduces the creature feature and simultaneously makes a couple of wit references towards classic cinema. This film certainly isn't meant for video game and/or CGI effects worshiping audiences, but fans of Hammer, Amicus or even the "The Twilight Zone" will definitely appreciate it!