About two weeks ago, Hell Fest hit theaters. And so, like any good horror fan, I saw it the day it came out. Hell Fest had already gotten pretty positive reviews, so my entourage and I were ready to settle in and watch some spooky murders.
The story follows a group of twenty-somethings going to Hell Fest, a Halloween theme park not unlike Six Flags’ Fright Fest. A few years before, several people had been murdered at a similar attraction and their bodies left to pose as props in mazes at the park. Even with this knowledge, the group continues into the Deadlands, where actors at the park can touch guests. It is there that the killer starts to target the group.
The catch? No one believes them. They came to get scared and can’t prove to security that their friends aren’t just hiding to freak them out. Already, it takes the classic slasher trope and puts a new spin on it; instead of the kids being thrust into a situation with a serial killer, they chose to enter the potentially dangerous situation. Of course, they had no idea the killer would be there, but almost all of them at least knew about the past murders and that the murderer had never been caught.
So, why did I love this movie?
- It acknowledged, yet subverted known horror film tropes at just the right times.
- The settings had great aesthetics. There was obviously a lot of time put into each maze and part of the park (even the lighting was on point). This kind of dedication is sometimes missing from non-franchise horror movies because they don’t have the budget. It’s important to note, though, that there are a couple scenes with flashing lights, so epileptic viewers, use your best judgment.
But what could have been better?
- A better understanding of the killer’s motivation for killing, and killing in this arena. He seems a little set off when a random girl calls the people who work at Hell Fest freaks, but that’s really all we get.
- The movie’s pacing was great until you get towards the end. When it comes out on DVD and Bluray, I just hope there’s an extended director’s cut that draws out the story further.
Hell Fest was a fun and gory experience, but maybe not for the whole family. The things it did right, it did RIGHT, and the things it didn’t hit the nail with will probably be explained in the future. Overall, I give it an 8/10, would spook again.