Mark Del Negro is back with his second feature film, Aleister. In 2014 Negro gifted us with Blood Reservoir, a horror thriller that also served as a Sleepaway Camp reunion between cast members Felissa Rose, Johnathan Tiersten and Maximo Sorrentino. Blood Reservoir was compromised by a series of production issues which resulted in a lackluster film. With Aleister, though, Negro promised that he turned up the production quality several notches. And what does that say about the story? Read my review below to find out how Aleister stacked up!
Aleister is written and directed by Mark Del Negro with cinematographer Tom Jorgensen. Cast members include Andrew Roth (Frightworld, Waterfront Nightmare), Apryl Crowell (Music Store Massacre, Zombie Isle), Johnny Alicea, Andi Balser, Ian Lyons, Nathaniel Sylva and Stephanie Wohlers. The film follows, “a newlywed couple seeking a fresh start to their lives by moving into an upper scale New England community. While settling in, they discover many disturbing secrets and acts connected to an infamous Satanic Cult which took place inside their very own home. They soon realize… they’re not living alone.”
The first thing I want to say is: yes, the production quality on Aleister is much higher than Blood Reservoir. Virtually all of the technical aspects that went awry on Mad Chaos Productions’ last feature film have been corrected this go around. This just goes to show viewers and filmmakers alike that putting together a crew that is both supremely talented AND reliable goes a long way in making your product worthwhile. I have my degree in Media & Film, and as someone with a background in film making, there’s no glaring mistakes here that I can see. Good lighting. Good audio. Good camera work. My only real criticism of Aleister from a production standpoint is that the CGI gunshots at the end were poorly executed. No pun intended.
As far as the casting goes, I’m glad that Negro took Aleister in a different direction, too. Instead of relying on indie cult stars to sell his movie, he chose two recognizable names in indie horror – Andrew Roth and Apryl Crowell – and filled the rest of the cast with adequate talent. When not working on his fitness (I follow him on Instagram), Andrew Roth is working in dozens of independent productions of all genres and is one of the most frequently recurring men in horror. I’m glad that he got to play the lead here. Apryl Crowell is still very much a newcomer, but she has a buzz around her. After watching Aleister, I can see why. For some reason, I really have no reason why, using Roth and Crowell as leads made the film feel so much homier, so much relate-able. Instead of focusing on big stars and “What will they do here?!” the audience can enjoy the cinematic experience of watching two up-and-comers tackling a supernatural-thriller.
Finally, I want to say that Aleister is a slow-burn supernatural-thriller. It doesn’t have people spinning through the air with their heads on backwards. It doesn’t have people being dragged up the staircase by ghosts. The satanic cult is ever present, though they maintain this presence mostly through clues and homages. I’d probably best describe Aleister as Rosemary’s Baby meets The House of the Devil. With a little bit of romance, drama and comedy thrown into the mix, the plot slowly builds to a climactic finish without being too gory and in your face the whole time. Again, there’s something homey (and I mean this in a good way) about Aleister. I could see a lot of independent film viewers watching this with their boyfriend/girlfriend especially in the winter months. My one criticism of the plot, though, is in relation to the time. Aleister is just over an hour long and I think, maybe, adding an extra scene or two of fearful elements – Hell, even a jump scare or two – would have established the feeling of suspense and mystery that Negro worked so hard to achieve.
Final Score: 6.25 out of 10
