HELLFEST: A-
It's as rewarding as it is entertaining to see a horror film go back to the basics. While there were a few jump scares, it was much appreciated that the film didn't rely on them. Cheap startles were out and in were suspenseful moments and psychological scares.
The realism in the film isn't so much that this could happen, as much as it is in the execution of the moment. The killer makes mistakes, just as one would in real life. Things don't always go as planned, just as they would in real life. Of course it wouldn't be a horror film if it didn't have a handful of nonsensical scenes. So don't worry, they're in there.
The characters of the film were predictable and rather lackluster. Extremely formulaic. The home boy party animal and his sex craved girlfriend. The illogical, let's panic best friend and her tag along for the ride boyfriend. The innocent and sweet guy, whom the lead has a romantic interest in. And of course our hero, the educated, heroine who without any prior identification suddenly becomes MacGyver in a crisis.
*Spoiler alert ahead*
A small flaw in the writing was not using Gavin's death in motivating Nat to its full potential. Her struggle against the killer was strictly survival. I think a mixture of survival and vengeance might have worked a little better.
Which leads to the killer. It was a simplistic and subtle performance and that's what made it all the more terrifying. We're left to wonder who is this? Why is he doing this? And in it's ambiguity, we're left knowing only enough to ask more questions. He's anybody. He's everybody. Someone's coworker. Some's friend. Someone you sit next to in Church. Someone's father. Proof that sociopaths live among us and they don't always wear their scary looking mask.
The musical score fit the action. The set designs and lighting were well done.
What made this film work for me was the atmosphere, the effort of genuine and sincere horror and an antagonist I hope to see more of in the future.
