A Far Cry From Home

Review: A Far Cry From Home. 2009. Southpaw Pictures. By Brian Kirst

Intended as one of the shorter films contained in the upcoming anthology Gallery of Fear, A Far Cry From Home beautifully takes the stereotypes of backwoods horror and gives them a violent social and political thrust.

Director/writer Alan Rowe Kelly tells the story of a conflicted gay couple (struggling with issues of age difference and physical perfection) who happen upon a derelict antique store on a road trip. Outside of the shop, the couple (beautifully portrayed by Kelly and Don Money) indulge in the two no-no’s of horror films (physical affection and drug use) and soon find themselves running for their lives. Of course, their tormentors react almost purely on the basis of the couple’s sexuality lending A Far Cry From Home both an enjoyability factor (per its hick horror regularities) and a profundity of spirit (based upon its examination of violent prejudice).

While some alternative presses have claimed that this piece is outlandish in its depictions of the terrorists (Well, it is a horror film after all, folks!), one needs to only walk down the streets and absorb the prejudicial cattle calls or reflect on fairly recent events (Matthew Sheppard, anyone?) to realize how right on the mark Kelly is. Kelly also eventually shows that the savages are biased against anyone with any kind of difference giving this mini-opus a true subtlety of purpose.

Beautifully filmed by cinematographer Bart Mastronardi, A Far Cry From Home also features many graphic and gruesome set pieces and several delightful twists that had audience members exclaiming with wonder long afterwards at a recent showing at Chicago’s Fangoria Convention.