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Overall Rating : 6/10
Directed By : Mark Atkins
Derek Osedach (Dracula's Curse)
Rebekah Kochan (When A Killer Calls)
Scot Nery
Supplied By : The Asylum
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Oct. 24, 2006
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| PLOT Based on actual events, a man escapes an insane asylum on October 31st to return to his childhood home in hopes of discovering why his mother was murdered. In order to learn the sick and perverse truth, he must kill everyone in his way, including the family who now lives in the house as well as the guests of the Halloween party. |
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| THE REVIEW HALLOWEEN NIGHT is a film that tells the story about the night that killer Christopher Vail returned to his childhood home to slaughter a group of partying teens. 10 Years prior, a younger Christopher witnessed the murder of his mother at the hands of 2 masked killers,- and while Christopher tried to escape, an accident left him very badly burned and scarred. Traumatized by the events, Chris has spent most of his days in a mental institution - 10 years to be exact and on the 10 year anniversary he escapes the facility killing the two guards on watch. Meanwhile, close by, David has been planning his annual Halloween costume party - a party in which he has informed everyone to be medieval themed....but sly David has planned all along to pull one over on his friends as well as Girlfriend Shannon. David and another friend plan to stage a scene in which a gun would come into play thus making the true theme of the annual party this year psychological Horror, because it would truly scare the party goers. What they are unaware of is that Vail has killed one of the guest earlier that night and has joined the party himself, why you ask? Because the party is being held in the very how in which the killer grew up.... Lately I have made it no secret that I haven't been pleased with The Asylum's recent releases, I have thought that they have been both unoriginal and uninspiring. When I read the back of the box for HALLOWEEN NIGHT it sounded a little too much like HALLOWEEN to me so when I popped it into my DVD player I again expected the same old thing I have been getting from my friends at The Asylum for awhile now - but I was wrong about this one! Although sounding like HALLOWEEN in the beginning, it is in fact somewhat original. The story spawns from a night about 20 years ago when Producer David Michael Latt who did throw actual themed parties back in High School every Halloween with friends. Latt one year played the very same prank as portrayed in the film which happened to be on a night a nutcase escaped from a nearby mental hospital - thus HALLOWEEN NIGHT'S story was born. Although the added elements of the killer escaping and returning home to terrorize is old news to everyone the film is very fun and easy to sit down and watch. I admit that the first few minutes of the film did not impress me, but the story is truly one that grows on you and develops over time. The gore effects in the film were good and like every other Asylum film very plentiful - if there's one thing The Asylum never fails in delivering it's the gore - and lots of it! As for Christopher Vail's burnt appearance, I don't think I like it much. He looks like a cross between "The Monster" in THE FUNHOUSE and Jason in early FRIDAY THE 13TH films - But for the most part Vail Dons an executioner style costume which does look rather cool if you ask me so more times than not his face is covered. As far as the acting, it is one where the leads are clearly that "leaders" Derek Osedach was great as David, and really likeable, I have seen him in a few films now and he is very talented, he has worked behind the scenes at The Asylum, but with performances such as this one, you are likely to see him in many more film roles. Rebekah Kochan plays Shannon here - to be Honest I didn't really care for the last film that I saw her in which was WHEN A KILLER CALLS, but here I felt that Rebekah shined I really enjoyed her performance. To me rounding out the truly great leading performances was the beautiful Erica Roby. It's also no secret that I love Erica, I find her absolutely fantastic, she is very talented. Here in a rather different role she plays a Lesbian - her partner is rather new at it so she is the rather dominant one of the relationship, and that becomes much more apparent as we watch her, at one point in the film, beat the hell out of Christopher Vail! HALLOWEEN NIGHT is seemingly a complete turnaround from The Asylum's recent films, many of which play off the bigger budgeted films being released, and I really did enjoy it, it's a film that as it progresses, it turns out to be a really fun slasher film. |
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| GORE
METER 6/10 I have to give credit where credit is due in the gore department. We have various things, a knife through the mouth, axe through one's stomach, head etc.... and i'd all really nasty as well |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3.5/10 The score is decent enough and resembles HALLOWEEN a bit, but it doesn't really stand out in my opinion... It also occasionally incorporates some heavy rock tracks.. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Overall, this release brings The Asylum back to where they were when I started reviewing titles for them, and I really do miss that to tell the truth. As a fan of the slasher genre of Horror, I really loved the setting and plot of the film, and I think a lot of fans will find something they enjoy out of it as well - I do recommend checking this one out! |
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