strtfghtr
10-31-2008, 01:19 PM
So last weekend I got invited to the world premier of Synthetic cinema's new flick: Banshee!!! Myself, ladyfrank and about 20 others dolled-up for this red carpet galla event at a club in Hartford.
Basic premise: A group of teens gather for a fun-filled weekend of secks and booze in the woods of CT. Unfortunately for them there is a pissed off shape shifting banshee looking to kick everyone's ass. Only the crazy old dude living in the woods knows what needs to be done.
If anyone has seen any of Synthetic Cinema's other movies (Trees, Trees 2, Predator Island, Werewolf: the Devil's Hound) you can tell their movies are a progression getting better and better each time (except Predator Island...that just sucked). Banshee!!! is leaps and bounds better than the Devil's Hound. Production, effects, acting, script, etc. all have improved.
The effects in this movie are great for such a low budget flick, they make Sci-Fi Channel movies look like cartoon draw-ins. The banshee itself is awesome looking and has some great kills. Though the monster is mostly CGI it is the good kind that does not distract, but merely enhances.
Hardcore horror fans will enjoy the level of seriousness this movies takes, first and foremost it is a monster movie and takes itself as such. Though some "inside" horror jokes are in there for fans. I know I caught at least one Dead by Dawn reference.
The acting (while not superb) is tolerable. But you can’t expect too much from a movie with 90% CT locals and a budget not far from your average family’s trip to KFC. The one big stand out was the “Old guy” there’s nothing better than a pissed off old dude looking to hunt down a monster for vengeance. Also keep an eye out for none other than UHM’s reviewer John Doolan in an incredibly creepy scene near the beginning. His other worldly motions and responses to the other characters make me never want to cross him in a dark hallway… or anywhere at all.
The kills were sweet as well, definitely some originality went into these, it’s not the same cookie cutter crap you get in other movies, these were done by true horror fans. Beheadings, exploding heads, crushing, impalement, and a few more surprises tossed in for fun.
The biggest surprise for me was the directing, low budget films is a breeding ground for directorial talent and this movie had it. Great cinematography and spanning shots are all here. I got a chance to talk with the director and oddly enough he wasn’t even a big horror fan before making this movie, hell he could have fooled me, some of his shots were awesome, the garage scene in particular comes to mind.
In all this movie was a fun romp worthy of any Saturday night monster movie fun. I don’t think it will be out on DVD till some time later in 09 but if you get a chance to catch it I recommend it.
8/10
Basic premise: A group of teens gather for a fun-filled weekend of secks and booze in the woods of CT. Unfortunately for them there is a pissed off shape shifting banshee looking to kick everyone's ass. Only the crazy old dude living in the woods knows what needs to be done.
If anyone has seen any of Synthetic Cinema's other movies (Trees, Trees 2, Predator Island, Werewolf: the Devil's Hound) you can tell their movies are a progression getting better and better each time (except Predator Island...that just sucked). Banshee!!! is leaps and bounds better than the Devil's Hound. Production, effects, acting, script, etc. all have improved.
The effects in this movie are great for such a low budget flick, they make Sci-Fi Channel movies look like cartoon draw-ins. The banshee itself is awesome looking and has some great kills. Though the monster is mostly CGI it is the good kind that does not distract, but merely enhances.
Hardcore horror fans will enjoy the level of seriousness this movies takes, first and foremost it is a monster movie and takes itself as such. Though some "inside" horror jokes are in there for fans. I know I caught at least one Dead by Dawn reference.
The acting (while not superb) is tolerable. But you can’t expect too much from a movie with 90% CT locals and a budget not far from your average family’s trip to KFC. The one big stand out was the “Old guy” there’s nothing better than a pissed off old dude looking to hunt down a monster for vengeance. Also keep an eye out for none other than UHM’s reviewer John Doolan in an incredibly creepy scene near the beginning. His other worldly motions and responses to the other characters make me never want to cross him in a dark hallway… or anywhere at all.
The kills were sweet as well, definitely some originality went into these, it’s not the same cookie cutter crap you get in other movies, these were done by true horror fans. Beheadings, exploding heads, crushing, impalement, and a few more surprises tossed in for fun.
The biggest surprise for me was the directing, low budget films is a breeding ground for directorial talent and this movie had it. Great cinematography and spanning shots are all here. I got a chance to talk with the director and oddly enough he wasn’t even a big horror fan before making this movie, hell he could have fooled me, some of his shots were awesome, the garage scene in particular comes to mind.
In all this movie was a fun romp worthy of any Saturday night monster movie fun. I don’t think it will be out on DVD till some time later in 09 but if you get a chance to catch it I recommend it.
8/10