*** There be spoilers here ***
This is another film from directed by J. Christian Ingvordsen and written by Matthew M. Howe who previously brought us Blood Relic which I enjoyed and Bog Creatures which I haven't seen yet. Fort Doom is another enthusiastic production. It also reunites much of the same cast headed by the beautiful Debbie Rachon, the talented Billy Drago and the lovely Jennifer Lauren Grant who I look forward to seeing more of.
While the idea if transplanting a slasher flick (or half a slasher flick) to the old west is commendable I didn't enjoy this as much as Blood Relic, a film that knew what it wanted to be all the way through.
First off, most of the major characters were prostitutes, yet the film has very little nudity (thanks Debbie for coming through at the end!). One of the things I liked about Blood Relic was that most of the females characters got naked to one degree or another (Jennifer Lauren Grant, we're still waiting!!!), and those characters were just typical horny young adults not professional sex workers. Note to filmmakers in general: If your characters are strippers, prostitutes, or porn actresses then modesty is not usually among their character traits, nudity is expected.
And while there is some blood, the film pretty much lacks any gore. While I still haven't decided if this is a horror film in a western setting or a western with some horror elements, either way it would have benefited with some good old gore and T&A.
*** Danger: even more spoilers ***
Another problem is that a mystery stalker/killer just doesn't come across as threatening in an already dangerous situation. This is why horror films set in a war don't work so well. In the setting of this film the characters talk about the dangers of "Indians" outside the wall of the fort yet characters venture out there and are killed. I think the tension would have been more effective if the killer struck within the fort and the homes of the victims.
*** Lots o' spoilers ***
Lastly, I'm not even sure how to characterize this film. Th packaging presents it as a horror film, and it starts off as a slasher movies set in the post-civil war old west. Then about 2/3 of the way through after the killer is discovered and dispatched it turns in to a straight up western as confederate troops attack the fort. Then it changes into, well, I'm not sure what, sci fi?, as we discover that these aren't regular confederate troops, but were treated with a drug that makes them physically stronger yet weakens their will so they are being controlled like some deformed zombie army. Very strange indeed. And just when it looked like I knew what was going on it turns into something like an episode of Wild, Wild West when one of our heroes turns out to be a special Secret Service agent reporting to the President.
While I did enjoyed the film I think the story switched direction a few too many times.
This is another film from directed by J. Christian Ingvordsen and written by Matthew M. Howe who previously brought us Blood Relic which I enjoyed and Bog Creatures which I haven't seen yet. Fort Doom is another enthusiastic production. It also reunites much of the same cast headed by the beautiful Debbie Rachon, the talented Billy Drago and the lovely Jennifer Lauren Grant who I look forward to seeing more of.
While the idea if transplanting a slasher flick (or half a slasher flick) to the old west is commendable I didn't enjoy this as much as Blood Relic, a film that knew what it wanted to be all the way through.
First off, most of the major characters were prostitutes, yet the film has very little nudity (thanks Debbie for coming through at the end!). One of the things I liked about Blood Relic was that most of the females characters got naked to one degree or another (Jennifer Lauren Grant, we're still waiting!!!), and those characters were just typical horny young adults not professional sex workers. Note to filmmakers in general: If your characters are strippers, prostitutes, or porn actresses then modesty is not usually among their character traits, nudity is expected.
And while there is some blood, the film pretty much lacks any gore. While I still haven't decided if this is a horror film in a western setting or a western with some horror elements, either way it would have benefited with some good old gore and T&A.
*** Danger: even more spoilers ***
Another problem is that a mystery stalker/killer just doesn't come across as threatening in an already dangerous situation. This is why horror films set in a war don't work so well. In the setting of this film the characters talk about the dangers of "Indians" outside the wall of the fort yet characters venture out there and are killed. I think the tension would have been more effective if the killer struck within the fort and the homes of the victims.
*** Lots o' spoilers ***
Lastly, I'm not even sure how to characterize this film. Th packaging presents it as a horror film, and it starts off as a slasher movies set in the post-civil war old west. Then about 2/3 of the way through after the killer is discovered and dispatched it turns in to a straight up western as confederate troops attack the fort. Then it changes into, well, I'm not sure what, sci fi?, as we discover that these aren't regular confederate troops, but were treated with a drug that makes them physically stronger yet weakens their will so they are being controlled like some deformed zombie army. Very strange indeed. And just when it looked like I knew what was going on it turns into something like an episode of Wild, Wild West when one of our heroes turns out to be a special Secret Service agent reporting to the President.
While I did enjoyed the film I think the story switched direction a few too many times.