...ya know?? One of the biggest problems with being a respectably seasoned, knowledgeable and well-rounded horror genre aficionado (...in truth, I can't admit to have seen
everything...and I do relish the occasional surprise, in having finally gotten around in catching something, which I've either ignored, or something that has just merely gotten by me...both instances, for whatever reason...but eh, I feel that I've seen enough to justify respectable commentary)...exuding and giving proper credit to everything seen over the years, from the golden age of silent cinema, to today's big screen offerings, as well as the often-ignored and under-appreciated independent productions, produced nowadays...is that this viewer, often times, finds himself quite torn. Torn, with respects to genre filmmakers, who borrow and tinker with previously used, albeit proven sure-fire ideas, throw them into their own perspective pots, along with a smidgen of ideas of their own, stir vigorously, and proudly...perhaps even shamelessly serve up something 'uniquely homage', for lack of a better term. Hell, Quentin Tarantino's been doing that for years, and for the most part, has been quite successful at it, for those who's been keeping up...
...and yes, admittedly there
have been many a genre film production which have assumed this hybrid idea approach, and have spewed forth some great little movies, from time to time, at the result (...I'm reminded of the sinister mustachioed chef in the 1967 Rankin/Bass-animated film, "Mad Monster Party?", who when asked why his rather unconventional dishes taste so good, he proudly snaps his fingers in the air, and melodically proclaims, "...oh, I take-a pinch a-dis, an' a pinch a-dat...a pinch a-dis, a pinch a-dat...', and so on); but on the flip side, it
does make one wonder...in the midst of carousing through movie after movie, and repeatedly noting that 'hey, I've seen something like that before, in (...fill in the blank)'...if there truly
are any original ideas, anymore...
...now,
that having been said...
...resigned, or perhaps more willfully resorting to an ungodly level of brutality, violence and torture, a cadre of late 17th century priests come across a horrifically plagued New World settlement community, who unbeknownst to the visiting clergy, have built their home over sacred Indian burial ground. As the result, the hapless community has become possessed by demonic entities, which have rendered the settlement populous...men, women and children...uncontrollably crazed, monstrous and blood-thirsty. After repeatedly exhaustive and blood-rendering attempts at restraining, tortuously coercing and performing all venues of ritualistic exorcism, it is determined that the only way to squelch the victims of the demonic outbreak, is through decapitation. And soon after, the bodies of the possessed are secretly buried in the surrounding woods...
...succumbing to almost tourist-like, flavor-of-the-moment activity of the time (...so many movies, these days, dealing with hapless teams of determined, albeit inexperienced ghost-hunters, it almost seems like the ideal way to spend one's summer vacation, you think??), a group of unseasoned and thus-far disillusioned modern-day freelance paranormal investigators...one of whom has ransacked a church for a sacred and forbidden book, the contents of which reportedly documents the horrific and monstrous past events of the local area, involving the cursed settlement, and the priests' exhaustive, albeit heinous efforts to stop the evil in it's tracks...proceed to traverse on foot, some local and marked Pennsylvania woods, in search of the hidden and rumored haunted church cemetery, in hopes of scrounging up evidence of some kind of supernatural presence in the area...
...and when one of the gals in the group accidentally cuts herself, and dribbles a few drops of blood upon the ground of the tainted graveyard...well, let's just say that, to put things quite mildly, this intrepid team of paranormal investigators discover far more than what they bargained for...
...it has
often been said by seasoned naysayers, that if you want to break into the business of making films, producing films, writing films, whatever...especially in sticking one's big toe into the
easiest of the movie genres to get started in, namely that of the horror movie...and especially when it's clear that you
have the talent...you just have to get in there and do it, by whatever means possible. 'Don't wait for those so-called doors of opportunity to present themselves', they say; 'use a battering ram, and make your
own pathway'. Too few filmmakers have subscribed to this wise and ambitious mantra, with probably many a talented filmmaker out there, falling to the wayside, at the result of not throwing it all out there, for whatever reason (...often times, not wanting to take that gamble.....perhaps a desire to stay withing the meld of an independent filmmaker.....maybe resigning one's self to the time-worn obstacle and/or excuse of 'no one wants to take a chance on original ideas'...etc.)...
...but clearly, that is not the case with writer/director Adam Ahlbrandt, who has definitely...and well, successfully jumped into the fray...as yet, not fully appreciated, but nonetheless quite fearless and confident in his intent, with both hands in full control of the reins, that make up the very essence of the horror genre...
...the reviews' circuit are replant with amassed praise and accolades over Adam's first noted juggernaut of a film...a reportedly nasty, albeit tasty little horror ditty, which he produced a year previous to "The Cemetery", and called "Cross Bearer"; regretfully, this reviewer has yet to afford himself the opportunity to experience that former film (...something I hope to rectify, here real soon). However, when word of "The Cemetery" came down the pipe, this reviewer was quick to latch onto
this one...and the result proved rather extraordinary, with a film that unabashedly exudes an absolute passion for the horror genre. Adam clearly and adoringly embraces the concept of the contemporary horror film, and as such, seems to know what the genre is all about; let's face it: the man
knows what people want to see in a great horror film, and with little exception herein, does not miss a single beat, in the process...
..."The Cemetery" is ideally, albeit unconventionally paced, in the sense of how it shifts it's intensity and overall mood; moments of humor and comedy relief (...though, this film is, without a doubt, not a comedy) quickly and frequently take an abrupt about-face, in favor of the scares and the chills and the gut-retching, jaw-dropping horror moments...in essence, always keeping the viewing audience off-guard, which is a good thing. And 'gut-wretching' is probably an understatement herein this film, as the blood and the gore is quite righteous and plentiful in it's flow, and in it's execution...creatively rendered, and never just 'gore, for gore's sake'. Sigh...and as suggested at the beginning of this review...yes, there
are inspired 'wink-winks' to classic contemporary horror films...the obvious, being nods towards "Evil Dead", "Blair Witch" and "Friday the 13th", but less obvious (...unless you're a true devotee to the genre...present company included), there's moments that recall Fred Olen Ray's "Scalps", Mike Mendez' "The Convent", and even 1970's torture shocker, "Mark of the Devil". But these cleverly instilled homage moments are never overly lingering, nor dwelled upon, and that's a good thing, because this movie, most assuredly
wants to be it's own beast...and succeeds quite well in doing so, despite the familiar moments...
...the cast is quite capable, as far as performances, though the characters themselves are fairly cliche, as might be expected of a film of this ilk (...the gung-ho team leader, the angst & spiteful medium, the druggie comedy relief, the self-serving despicable, etc.). Surprisingly enough, the most likable character in the film, Bill...as played by J. D. Brown (...reportedly, a starring entourage carry-over, having also starred in "Cross Bearer")...is a bit on the unscrupulous side, as he proves to be the one who covertly stole into the church, and snagged the aged documentive book. And actress Natalie Jean definitely seems to have had the most fun in this film's ghastly proceedings, in the role of Andrea; drenched and caked in prosthetics and stage blood, she gets to giddily and manically run around, in crazed pursuit of the others...herself, robustly cackling, sinister evil-grinned possessed and bloodied...in a sort of macabre, gruesome and...well, let's face it...a 'fate worse than death' game of 'tag, you're it!!'...
...if there any sort of singular flaw to this piece of delicious horror madness, it would have to be the music. Not that this reviewer has anything against the grating rattles, growlings and grumblings of death metal music (...with over-the-top band names, like...specific to this film, not withstanding...Circle of Dead Children, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Squash Bowels); to the contrary, death metal has an ardent and respected spot amidst many a horror film, in the past decade or so. However, the music strewn throughout "The Cemetery" might sometimes seem ill-placed, in spots...almost to the point where the music isn't so much annoying, per say, as it might seem more distracting, if anything. But considering the film's greater assets, this is a mute point, at best...
...it's always cool and interesting, in becoming privy to a fledgling filmmaker, who harbors the potential to possibly do bigger and better things in the future, given the opportunity. For this reviewer, he has definitely seen a grand number of them rise to the occasion, over the past three or four decades, without ever realizing from the start, just how far they might possibly go. It's probably safe to say that filmmaker Adam Ahlbrandt falls well into this respected notch...as well as it also being safe to say that anything produced by this up and coming artist, will be well worth waiting for...
...plain and simple: "The Cemetery" is one under-the-radar independent horror production, which begs for well-warranted & well-deserved attention, and should not...I repeat, should
not be overlooked...
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