Would you go on a vacation you'd won in a contest... even though you don't remember entering any contest?
This is the quandary Regina (Linda Gillen) finds herself in. She decides to take a long study break from the college, and heads off to Red Wolf Inn. After the chartered plane lands, Baby John (John Neilson) drives her to the Inn. Because of his fast driving, they have to escape a pursuing cop car on the way. So begins the strange events.
Arriving at the Inn, Regina meets the owners, Henry (Arthur Space) and Evelyn (Mary Jackson), and their other two guests, Pamela (Janet Wood) and Edwina (Margaret Avery).
Everything appears perfect. Henry, Evelyn, and their grandson Baby John are excellent hosts. Evelyn excels in the kitchen, and her tender morsels are devilishly delicious. Everybody wants not just seconds but thirds. Even the guests, Pamela and Edwina, are faultless. They are honest, open, and kind. It's easy to see why all three women become fast friends.
It's these characters that drive the story and enhance the film. Writer Allen Actor does an outstanding job making the characters believable. Because the film's classed as a horror, you try to figure out what will go awry. If this wasn't the case you'd be wanting to move into Red Wolf right away... I know I would.
Bud Townsend was the right director for the story. What Townsend gives the audience is a near-perfect film. He has a great eye and there are lots of excellent camera work throughout the movie. Not once does he take his eye off the ball.
He uses everything in his toolbox to create the movie's different atmospheres. To make the place homely and welcoming, he lights the rooms fully and uses vivid colour. While he uses defused colour and soft focus for romance; we see this in the beach scene with Regina and Baby John. And when he wants you at unease, he darkens the shadows and uses pools of light; used best at the last dinner table scene, which is very eerie.
All these scenes are further enhanced by the cast and their performances. Whoever cast this picture did a wonderful job. Arthur Space and Mary Jackson are the grandparents you want. They come across as both interesting and interested in their guests. You can't help but like them. We can equally state this for the guests. It's particularly nice to see everybody getting along. This enriches the homely mood; which further amplifies the creepiness when it creeps in.
However, it's Neilson as Baby John who steals the show. Suffering from anxiety, I have to say both the writer, Actor, and Neilson get the mental illness correct. Neilson has two wonderful scenes where he melts-down. Each time he nails it. I find I can relate and believe in Baby John more because of Neilson's portrayal.
I'd recommend this to all fans of Chillers... and those people who believe psychos &.... (no spoilers) ...should be in the Horror genre. This is a good story, well filmed, and nicely acted. There is every chance I'll be revisiting this title in the not too distant future.
Ratings: Story 1.25 : Direction 1.5 : Pace 0.75 : Acting 1.25 : Enjoyment 1.25 : Total 6 / 10
Take a trip over to my Killer Thriller Chillers and see where this slice of pie landed in the charts.
Take Care and Stay Well.
This is the quandary Regina (Linda Gillen) finds herself in. She decides to take a long study break from the college, and heads off to Red Wolf Inn. After the chartered plane lands, Baby John (John Neilson) drives her to the Inn. Because of his fast driving, they have to escape a pursuing cop car on the way. So begins the strange events.
Arriving at the Inn, Regina meets the owners, Henry (Arthur Space) and Evelyn (Mary Jackson), and their other two guests, Pamela (Janet Wood) and Edwina (Margaret Avery).
Everything appears perfect. Henry, Evelyn, and their grandson Baby John are excellent hosts. Evelyn excels in the kitchen, and her tender morsels are devilishly delicious. Everybody wants not just seconds but thirds. Even the guests, Pamela and Edwina, are faultless. They are honest, open, and kind. It's easy to see why all three women become fast friends.
It's these characters that drive the story and enhance the film. Writer Allen Actor does an outstanding job making the characters believable. Because the film's classed as a horror, you try to figure out what will go awry. If this wasn't the case you'd be wanting to move into Red Wolf right away... I know I would.
Bud Townsend was the right director for the story. What Townsend gives the audience is a near-perfect film. He has a great eye and there are lots of excellent camera work throughout the movie. Not once does he take his eye off the ball.
He uses everything in his toolbox to create the movie's different atmospheres. To make the place homely and welcoming, he lights the rooms fully and uses vivid colour. While he uses defused colour and soft focus for romance; we see this in the beach scene with Regina and Baby John. And when he wants you at unease, he darkens the shadows and uses pools of light; used best at the last dinner table scene, which is very eerie.
All these scenes are further enhanced by the cast and their performances. Whoever cast this picture did a wonderful job. Arthur Space and Mary Jackson are the grandparents you want. They come across as both interesting and interested in their guests. You can't help but like them. We can equally state this for the guests. It's particularly nice to see everybody getting along. This enriches the homely mood; which further amplifies the creepiness when it creeps in.
However, it's Neilson as Baby John who steals the show. Suffering from anxiety, I have to say both the writer, Actor, and Neilson get the mental illness correct. Neilson has two wonderful scenes where he melts-down. Each time he nails it. I find I can relate and believe in Baby John more because of Neilson's portrayal.
I'd recommend this to all fans of Chillers... and those people who believe psychos &.... (no spoilers) ...should be in the Horror genre. This is a good story, well filmed, and nicely acted. There is every chance I'll be revisiting this title in the not too distant future.
Ratings: Story 1.25 : Direction 1.5 : Pace 0.75 : Acting 1.25 : Enjoyment 1.25 : Total 6 / 10
Take a trip over to my Killer Thriller Chillers and see where this slice of pie landed in the charts.
Take Care and Stay Well.