Indie Film Review: THE BEAST (2012)

 I love short films and short films that get to the point are even better since they know what type of film they want to present and what theme they need to follow delivering a very concise and effective story.  If the film has good production values, good acting, and overall cohesive mise en scene then I’m there.  The Beast (2012) is one of these types of rare indie short films that manage to achieve this.  Written, produced and directed by Peter Dukes The Beast is a great example of an affective horror short film.  

The film concerns the plight of Michel (Bill Oberst, Jr. who did a fine job as Abraham Lincoln in Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies - 2012) whom with his friend Douglas (Peter Le Bas) are preparing to tie up Michel’s son Jacob (Alexander Le Bas) during the night of a full moon.  Douglas, realizing that what he and Michel is doing is futile, tries to convince Michel that he must do the right thing by Jacob by ending the boy’s life.  Michel hears his friend’s words but may not be able to make the sacrifice of his own son despite the dangers present with keeping the boy alive.  As the full moon rises time is running out for not just Jacob whose hands remain unbound but for all three men.

The film is a solid suspense horror film that relies more on the emotional contours of the characters to drive the story rather than on any flashy special FX and gore.  With only three actors to focus on the audience is kept at attention and on the edge of their seat wanting to know what will happen next despite realizing what the final fate of the characters will ultimately be.  Oberst, Jr. shines as Michel, a father with the ultimate decision to make – one that may forever haunt him.

John Snedden is director of photography of the film and delivers the goods as you are constantly aware of the moon slowly creeping into frame.  The impending presence of the full moon is a ticking time bomb for the characters which puts both the characters and the audience on the edge of their seats.  This is enhanced by Giona Ostinelli’s score for the film - a great classical sound for the period setting of the film.

If you enjoy a hirer profile kind of horror film then The Beast will be just right for you.

Movie Review: ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES (2012)

Coming off of the heels of the Hollywood film adaptation of the very popular novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) is the low budget indie film Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies (2012).  With a story by Karl T. Hirsch and J. Lauren Proctor and directed by Richard Schenkman (who wrote the screenplay) this is a horror film that plays loosely with the facts of Lincoln’s life while looking for the same audience that would enjoy Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

 

In this story Lincoln (played by Bill Oberst, Jr.) becomes the man that he is by having watched his mother become a victim of the zombie plague and his father a man torn by that knowledge.  His world is turned upside down when as the President of the United States during the Civil War he realizes that the zombie plague has returned and threatens the success of his campaign to win the war.  Knowing more about the zombie plague than anyone else it is his duty to head the team of soldiers that will help irradiate the threat.

Surprisingly, the film is not as bad as it sounds and Oberst as the President is one of the best aspects of the film as much of the rest of the cast is entertaining but quite forgettable.  The action is plentiful and the death gratuitous as should be for any indie zombie film.  Lincoln dispatches zombies as if he was born to it.  The zombies are plentiful and well done and there are plenty to go around.  A lot of low budget films either have too many or too few but this film has just the right amount because Lincoln and his cast of soldiers dispatch the zombies in a variety of different ways that never becomes repetitive or boring.  For those looking to be entertained this is one of those films.

If there is one thing negative I can say about the film it’s that the limitation of locations is felt during the midpoint of the film in which the characters seem to be treading the same ground over and over again.  It’s not until the third act of the film that the fun is truly had as Lincoln continues to achieve one crazy feat after another leading to one hell of an entertaining climax that had me forgetting just how much the middle section dragged.  

One of the reasons why the film works is because the film-makers realize early on what a ridiculous idea the film is but they pour their heart and soul into presenting an entertaining and gory film that is made even more entertaining because it’s a period film.  All the actors give their all and it has zombies, which is a hundred times more entertaining than vampires.  You can certainly do much worse than this film.