Which country makes the best horror films? While America is the biggest producer of horror films, every once and a while a feature comes along from another country that raises the bar and proves that foreign nations can be leaders in the genre, too. Australia recently released a film, Scare Campaign, that is probably the best reality show meets real life horror scenario that I’ve ever seen; and the subcategory is one of my favorites. Aussie’s really know how to do it and I’m shocked that it was sent straight-to-DVD and VOD Stateside while doing sporadic film festivals in its home country. I truly believe it could have been a sleeper hit if given a limited theatrical release. It’s certainly deserving of one if basing release on quality of work.
Scare Campaign is basically “Scare Tactics” meets Saw. A small group of actors, cameramen and producers have been filming a television show called “Scare Campaign” for the past five years. While the show is still popular on its network, the ratings and viewership are beginning to slide after so many years on air and it seems that a renewal may not be in the cards. It doesn’t help that a bizarre band of snuff filmmakers are releasing content online that is stealing viewers from “Scare Campaign” and hindering its plight against cancellation. The cast and crew of “Scare Campaign” are given one more episode to up their game if they want to see season six. They find the location, they find the story and they find the mark and it’s lights, camera, action. Only this time, things don’t go quite as planned and the prank show becomes a night of terror that will make television history.
Scare Campaign is one of those movies that doesn’t need to rely on jump scares and shock value to tell its story. It does have two jump scares and a truck load of gore, but it’s biggest strength is the ever adapting story that encompasses every subgenre of horror in one unique story. We start with a haunted hospital setting, then we move to a haunted house setting, then we get a psychological thriller, then we get a slasher and we end with something in the outskirts of torture porn; and let me not forget to mention snuff – which I hear a lot of people are into. Scare Campaign is the epitome of a snake with so many unpredictable twists and turns. But, you know what? They’re all executed beautifully and work together well to further the progression of this slightly comedic, very suspenseful, cohesive film. Excellent writing from Cameron and Colin Cairnes. They wrote a script that is current, fun, frightful and subconsciously creepy.
Aside from the masterfully creative script, Scare Campaign‘s second biggest strength is its built in suspense. Every scene has some level of suspense, and it fluctuates and changes to keep you on your toes throughout the entire film. You’re left enthralled and wondering will the prank go as planned, what’s real and what’s fake, who is going to survive and what plot twist is about to happen next. Its heart pounding, undeniable suspense is going to reach into the viewer and pull an emotion out of them, in this case one that is geared in the direction of the cast and crew’s survival. They’re marginally enjoyable and this isn’t the type of movie where you hope something happens to them. This means that when one of them bites the dust it’s not a cheering moment, it’s a further plunge into the quirky, weird dimension of terror that is Scare Campaign. It’s gripping and emotional and heinous and you’re going to love it!
When my only complaints are that all of the characters are too pretty and all of the actors are too good, you know that Scare Campaign is a really good flick. And it has one of the best face chop off scenes! And it has tremendous sequel potential. I could keep raving, but I think you get the picture by now. Scare Campaign is scary, tricky and tense. It’s the ultimate compilation of subgenres, themes and plot twists. You just need to see it. Final Score: 9 out of 10.
Scare Campaign is written and directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes. Meegan Warner (“Turn: Washington’s Spies”), Ian Meadows (“Home and Away”), Olivia DeJonge (The Visit), Patrick Harvey (“Neighbors”), Cassandra Magrath (Wolf Creek), Steve Mouzakis (I, Frankenstein), Josh Quong Tart, John Brumpton, Jason Geary and Sigrid Thornton. Cinematography was performed by John Brawley with special effects supervisor Luke Polti.
