I was fortunate enough to attend a private screening of the new horror film, SWEATSHOP, from indie horror master, Stacy Davidson of Odysee Pictures. SWEATSHOP is written by Ted Geoghegan and Stacy Davidson.
Stacy Davidson’s resume as a cinematographer includes The Flesh Keeper and Domain of the Damned, both of which are worthy of a watch for any fan of horror films. He wrote and directed Domain of the Damned, which was favorably reviewed by many as it really was an incredible freshman directorial effort. But, nothing he has done in the past can compare SWEATSHOP for sheer horror, brutality, and absolutely incredible gore effects.
SWEATSHOP is the story of a group of entrepreneurs, headed up by Charlie – portrayed beautifully by Ashley Kay, who crash an old abandoned warehouse to set up a rave to make a few quick bucks. They quickly find that the warehouse is not abandoned and is home to something that enjoys murdering intruders with a large and very brutal hammer made from sewer pipe and an anvil.
Joining Ashley Kay in this endeavor are Melanie Donihoo, Peyton Wetzel, Brent Himes, Naika Malveaux, Julin, Danielle Jones, Krystal Freeman, Vincent Guerrero. The film featured a cameo appearance by Fangoria’s Michael Gingold too. And living every horror fan’s dream – Jeremy Sumrall stalks, smashes, and brutalizes the characters as the Beast.
The special effects crew of Kristi Bouls, Marcus Koch, and Mike Oliver were challenged by director and co-writer Stacy Davidson to create some of the most brutal but realistic kills you’ll find anywhere in low-budget indie horror and they rose to the challenge. This film features more smashed heads than any film I’ve ever seen. The Beast wields a mighty hammer as his signature weapon but is found improvising with barbed wire, needle nose pliers, garden shears, machetes, and other nasty little implements he keeps around for odd jobs. The Beast even creates a new ball gag that is disturbing enough to make the average horror fan sick. Those few in attendance at this screening cheered the kills for their brilliance and nastiness.
The technical merits of this low-budget “smasher” flick are incredible. Stacy Davidson not only co-wrote and directed but also shot and edited the film. The film is paced beautifully. Everything from location to lighting to score to effects to makeup pull together to create a visual and auditory stunning cinematic experience. I do not know the budget on this film but it looks like it cost a million or more pretty easy.
There really was very little I found to dislike about Sweatshop. The story works. There’s no backstory to explain why The Beast is there and why he kills all who enter his domain and it’s just not needed. This film is about the here and now. Charlie and her friends are hoping to make a small fortune but they picked the wrong place and they pay with their lives. The acting works – each of the cast delivers a performance that complements the story, their character, and each other’s performance.
Sweatshop is currently being submitted to the horror film festival circuit and I am quite sure you will see it in many of the largest and most prestigious film festivals. Film festival acceptances will be announced at the film’s Myspace and FaceBook presences. After the film festival circuit is run I am quite confident this film will be picked up for distribution and available on DVD in 2010 at retail outlets near you. Again, I’d recommend you keep an eye out for announcements at Facebook and Myspace. If this film is selected and plays at a festival near you I strongly recommend you grab some glowsticks and rave out with Sweatshop.
I am once again reminded why I am a fan of independent cinema. While the major studios continue finding old horror films to remake there are independent filmmakers creating original horror films now and they are brutal, they are beautiful, and they are the films I suspect that the major studios will be looking to remake 20 or 30 years from now.
Sweatshop on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Sweatshop/51723239074?ref=ts
Sweatshop on MySpace: https://www.myspace.com/sweatshopmovie
The trailer: https://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid5237561001?bctid=10445020001
Sweatshop on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160374/
