Halloween 2014 is just 13 days away and by now I’m sure you’re getting your Halloween late-night horror film list ready. With so many good titles out there, both past and present, I’m sure it’s hard to narrow down some of your choices outside classics like The Exorcist, John Carpenter’s Halloween, and Scream. If you’re like me, and the festivities start once the trick or treaters curfew begins, then you have a solid seven hours of horror movie marathon to squeeze in before bed time. So, why not let one of the movies be Travis Baker’s Mischief Night. I guarantee it’ll be different than any other Halloween themed title you’ve seen.
Travis Baker’s Mischief Night was released on May 20, 2014. Since I’m sure the start of summer is an odd time to release a movie that takes place on October 30th, let me take some time to jog your memory in regards to this title. Travis Baker’s Mischief Night is written and directed by, well, Travis Baker… obviously. He carefully crafted (carved?) this movie with producers Andrew Spieler (V/H/S 2), Ryan M. Vickers, and Swamp Shark star Richard Tanne. Cinematography was handled by Sean O’Dea, editing by Joe Lindquist, and special effects by Conor McCullaugh. Baker, Tanne, and Lindquist have previously worked together on web-series “Cinema Cool.”
The leading lady, an anti-survivor girl is played by MTV’s “Awkward” recurring cast member Brooke Anne Smith and the leading man, a crazy, murderous, bloody thirsty teddy bear wrapped in one is played by Marc Valera from the “Melrose Place” reboot. Supporting cast members include YouTube sensation and Smiley opening kill Nikki Limo, Matt Angel (My Super Psycho Sweet 16 I & II), and icon Malcolm McDowell. Malcolm McDowell has appeared in A Clockwork Orange, Star Trek: Generations, Tank Girl, Firestarter II, Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Rob Zombie’s Halloween II, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, Silent Night… The list goes on and on, really. I mean, he’s Malcolm frickin’ McDowell! He’s reason enough to buy Travis Baker’s Mischief Night! Oh, and there are small appearances by Erik Palladino (“ER,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “Over There,” “666 Park Avenue,” “NCIS: Los Angeles”), Lilly McDowell, and Braxton Davis, too!
“On the night before Halloween, young Kaylie is babysitting when she’s warned by a local night watchman not to answer the door – because nothing good can happen on Mischief Night. Kaylie soon realizes someone is stalking her, but on Mischief Night, nothing is as it seems.”
When Travis Baker’s Mischief Night was first released a few months ago, I was approached by Richard Tanne to do a lot of promotion for the title, which I gladly did. You can read my interviews with the following cast and crew members: Travis Baker, Richard Tanne, Brooke Anne Smith, Nikki Limo, and Marc Valera. The interviews paint a very clear picture of what the movie is truly about and even gives some insight into the behind-the-scenes action. You can even read my very spoiler-y review here. I gave it an 8 out of 10, by the way.
Now, I’m sure there are many of you who will suspect that my high rating of Travis Baker’s Mischief Night is only because I did so much work promoting the movie. Maybe you think my review is a little biased. Well, I decided to share with you some review quotes from Amazon.com. This movie currently has a 3 (out of 5) star rating based on almost 50 reviews. Here’s just some of what people had to say.
“Not to be confused with the other “Mischief Night,” which is about a blind girl trapped in her house by a stalker, this movie is about a babysitter who is being stalked. Sounds corny, but it really isn’t, as the plot twists make this movie anything but ordinary.”
“I thought I had seen every babysitter-versus-slasher-flick-idea ever imagined…but boy, was I wrong! Just when I think I have a genre solidified, an inventive filmmaker comes along and completely changes the game. Such is the case with MISCHIEF NIGHT.”
“What seems to be just another chick being stalked in the house she’s babysitting in takes an interesting turn and then twists around to being something very different. A different style of psycho is introduced…”
“This reminded me of one of those cheesy films within a film. Like the “Stab” movies in the “Scream” universe.”
Well-made flick with a very original twist on all of the old familiar slasher tropes that keeps you guessing right up until the end. Drags a tiny bit in the middle during some long conversations, but the bursts of action and scares keep the tempo mostly tight.”
So, why not take a chance on this Travis Baker’s Mischief Night? You’ve read that it is a very unique take on the babysitter vs. serial killer genre. You’ve read that it has decent to great reviews. And it has an all-star cast. Worse case scenario, it’s not your cup of tea and you have a new movie to add to your collection? Either way, Travis Baker’s Mischief Night is definitely HorrorSociety.com approved! Click here to buy your copy on Amazon.com. You have just enough time to get it before Mischief Night and Halloween without spending a lot of extra shipping tax!
