Rating of
2.5/4
Still Uneven, but Getting Better
Chris Kavan - wrote on 01/31/15
Anthology horror is a genre that has been making a comeback in the last two years thanks to the success of films like the original ABCs of Death as well as the V/H/S series. However, while the idea of behind anthology horror is sound, the result is often a mixed bag - the good, the bad and the best forgotten. The concept is simple - each director is given a letter of the alphabet, chooses a word and makes a short horror film based on that word. The original was uneven at best - the second series is a step above, but just so - there is more good here than before, but the average and plain bad still outnumber the more memorable shorts. That being said - it's still a good choice for horror fans - here's my take on each short:
A is for Amateur (directed by E.L. Katz) - A great start - Katz tells the tale of a driven, skilled hitman - if we can trust the opening - the actual tale turns out much different. It's inventive, bloody, humorous and titillating 4/4 - one of the best of the bunch.
B is for Badger (directed by Julian Barratt) - We join a news crew reporting on the disappearance of the badger due to a nearby nuclear power plant. Radiation + Badgers - you can guess what happens. Average with a bit of gore. 2/4
C is for Capital Punishment (directed by Julian Gilbey) - A man accused of a crime is given a dose of local justice - but does the punishment fit the crime? A slow moving story but powerful with an abrupt ending. 2.5/4
D is for Deloused (directed by Robert Morgan) - A stop-motion animated entry and easily one of the more disturbing shorts. Reminded me of a Tool music video crossed with the creepiness of Silent Hill - don't know if there was really a story to this, but the visuals alone will keep you awake. Winner of the most innovative entry. 4/4
E is for Equilibrium (directed by Alejandro Brugués) - This is a horror anthology, right? Anyway - two men trapped on a deserted island are joined by a woman - jealousy ensues and things get violent. Played for laughs, this is a strange entry - more comedic than scary. While it feels out-of-place, I still kind of enjoyed it. 2.5/4
F is for Falling (directed by Aharon Keshales) - An Israeli entry also a bit different from your standard horror - a soldier trapped in a tree convinces a young enemy soldier to help her rather than kill her - in order to get some glory for delivering her alive. But things don't turn out like either of them want. More a war story than horror - but kudos for offering, again, something a bit different. 2.5/4
G is for Granddad (directed by Jim Hosking) - The horror here is you cannot unsee old man full-frontal nudity - ever. Shock? Well, yeah. Scary? Other than being traumatized, no. Essentially a man living in a flat finds out his (older self? actual granddad?) is much closer than he could ever imagine - and he's naked. 1/4
H is for Head Games (directed by Bill Plympton) - The prolific animator is known for some pretty surreal and odd stuff - and he fits right in here. Still, this short is a bit of an LSD trip rather than a true horror. It's a bit uneven for my tastes. 2/4
I is for Invincible (directed by Erik Matti) - A family is looking to gain an inheritance... if only the matriarch would die. Another somewhat comedic/horror entry - it's short and to-the-point. 2.5/4
J is for Jesus (directed by Dennison Ramalho) - A mob boss? or someone of import finds out his son is carrying on a homosexual relationship and decides to turn him straight - with violence. Religious undertones make this a somewhat uncomfortable short (especially if you are religious) - but it certainly pushes the buttons. 2.5/4
K is for Knell (directed by Kristina Buozyte) - A short I wish had been longer - it has a very creepy atmosphere and racks up the tension in a short amount of time. Nothing is really explained, but that's OK. A nice entry. 3/4
L is for Legacy (directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen) - An African-influenced tale - but I'm not exactly sure what was going on. Something about a ritual sacrifice gone wrong, a monster attacking (with terrible CGI) and... that's it. Whatever, 1/4
M is for Masticate (directed by Robert Boocheck) - We follow the slow-motion journey of a large, sweaty, hungry man - victim of a zombie attack? Some terrible disease? - wait for the kicker of an ending - and remember kids, Just Say No! I liked this one - the slow motion style reminded me of the opening to Zombieland - the kicker was hilarious and while it wasn't exactly horror, it was fun. 3/4
N is for Nexus (directed by cult icon Larry Fessenden) - A man preparing to meet his girlfriend for Halloween (Frankenstein and his bride) is one a one-way trip with fate. The cut-aways between characters are obviously meant to create tension, but, really, it was a bit of a letdown - which is too bad coming from horror icon Fessenden. 2/4
O is for Ochlocracy (mob rule) - All those zombie games, movies, comics where you kill as many as you can? What happens if the zombies are "cured" and go after all the murderers who callously shot them in the head. I love the zombie genre (saturated as the market has become) and this was an inventive take on the issue. 3/4
P is for P-P-P-P Scary! (directed by Todd Rohal) - The worst of the bunch - a homage to the three stooges or something, a group of bumbling criminals (with terrible fake noses) traverse a dark something (cave? forest? building?) until they come across a man and his baby - using terrible camera tricks he continuously blows out their lantern and turns them into quivering mounds of jelly (literally). Bad acting, no story and just dumb. .5/4
Q is for Questionnaire - A man is given a roadside IQ test and seems to pass with flying colors - leading to a job opportunity - but be sure to read the fine print. One I felt could have been expanded to greater effect, none-the-less, a good entry. 2.5/4
R is for Roulette (directed by Marvin Kren) - This black-and-white gem once again ratchets up the tension as a game of Russian Roulette plays out. Another great ending. 3/4
S is for Split (directed by Juan Martínez Moreno) - Another find short - a woman calls her husband on vacation when a home invasion happens - best twist ending of the bunch and one of the more memorable shorts here. 3.5/4
T is for Torture Porn (directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska) - Ah, the twisted sisters (Dead Hooker in a Trunk, American Mary) - one of the more recognizable names in the pool of directors. Essentially a woman being interviewed for an adult film position is treated poorly and turns the tables on the crew. Respect, gentlemen, will get you far - the opposite will get you, well, just watch to find out how bad things can get. 3/4
U is for Utopia (directed by Vincenzo Natali) - Another short that could have benefited from a longer running time. A man is surrounded by perfect specimens, is labeled a sub-par representation and is punished accordingly as they look on. While the idea is nothing new - still pretty disturbing (and probably not far off the mark given are preconception of beauty and celebrity). 2.5/4
V is for Vacation (directed by Jerome Sable) - A man on vacation calls his wife only to have his misogynistic friend tell her all the sordid details of their true vacation - but when he takes things too far, it doesn't turn out well for anyone. One of the more violent entries - but nothing too imaginative. 2/4
W is for Wish (directed by Steven Kostanski) - Two friends enjoying their He-Man-esque toys find themselves whisked away to the actual land of fantasy - only to find this reality a lot more brutal and uncaring than what they could imagine. A dark, twisted tale with a disturbing ending. 3/4
X is for Xylophone (directed by Alexandre Bustillo) - A woman babysitting a young girl is driven to the edge by her toy Xylophone. Short and easily one of the more gory entries - but it's played for more shock than horror and loses its appeal. 2/4
Y is for Youth (directed by Sôichi Umezawa) - A Japanese girl laments the way her parents have treated her - dreaming up elaborate revenge fantasies. A fascinating look at teenage culture and imaginative use of visuals (strange, but that's Japan for you). 3/4
Z is for Zygote (directed by Chris Nash) - A pregnant woman is left alone as her husband head off, leaving her with some potent roots to stave off the birth. But how long can she hold out? If A started off on the right foot, Z ends with a bang delivery a truly horrifying conclusion - visually with some gore and another great (and icky) kicker. 4/4
Make sure to stay for a post-credits extra as well!
While most of the shorts fall short of what I would call "horror" there is enough inventiveness, humor (black at times) and chances taken that if you like the genre, you are sure to find at least a few reasons worth watching. Yes, there are some confusing, dumb and questionable homages thrown in - but since each film is short, you aren't out too much. I really hope we get a third one - I would be eager to see what some bigger names can do (much like Masters of Horror, but in a much shorter span) but new talent is welcome as well.
