Fear Town, USA
Director – Brandon Bassham (The Slashening, Grindsploitation)
Starring – Anna Callegari (CollegeHumor Originals, That Chick!), Cody Lindquist (Neon Joe: Werewolf Hunter, Shit Girls Say About Girls), and Amber Sophia Nelson (White Powder, Grindsploitation)
Release Date – 2014
Rating – 3.5/5
Tagline – “They were looking for fun, but what they found was…”
Sometime ago I was browsing Facebook when a page was recommended for me. The page was for an indie horror slasher titled The Slashening directed by Brandon Bassham. I reached out to the page and spoke with him (I assume it was him) about reviewing the film. I was informed that they had wrapped production on two movies. One being The Slashening and the other was Fear Town, USA.
I watched The Slashening and really enjoyed but before I could get around to Fear Town the link was removed for the online screener. I meant to message them back but life got away from me and I completely forgot. Recently Troma picked up both films for distribution and released them on blu as part of a double feature. I pulled some strings and was able to get a review copy of this set so I could finally watch Fear Town, USA. Thank you Troma for sending this one my way!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a group of nerdy men who have made it twenty some odd years without even touching a woman. When they hear about a party they decide to go and make a pact with one another to get laid that night. Also going to the party is a 17 year old girl who has been romantically involved with a man online and will finally meet him in person, an escaped mental patient, a compulsive pants wetter, a slasher wearing a welding mask, three young women haunted by their fat shamming friend, a psychic, and a man who may or may not be the devil. Once the party gets started the bodies start piling up while everyone learns to fight their own demons or die trying.**Spoiler Alert**
I was under the impression that Fear Town, USA was going to be a slasher comedy in the same line as The Slashening. Honestly, you can’t compare the two. The film was not what I was expecting and had a lot going on. This is rare for an indie production.
The acting in this one is indie rich. The cast has some on screen experience but most were either extras on bigger productions or minor characters in other indie flicks. Some struggled to find their footing but for the most part they do a great job at bringing their characters to life and making them memorable. There was a few characters that I could see find their way into a Troma production so it’s only fitting Troma released the film. Congrats to the cast.
The story for this one is so far out there and outlandish that you can’t help but love it. It is rather bold for an indie production and some of the scenes felt mashed together but the overall story was fun. I can’t recall another slasher, paranormal, transvestite, teen sex comedy so this one stands out from the crowd. Sadly, the blending of ideas and different story angles does feel a bit overwhelming and almost as cheap as a Scary Movie sequel. Pulling it in just a little would have went a long way.
Finally, the film is full of kills. Most are theatrical in nature with no actual murder being committed while others were classic slasher flair. For the deaths we get that involve blood they have decent practical effects but a few of the kills was a bit of a let down. They lacked imagination with the effects and did not look outside the box for things like camera angles and cut scenes to make the effects more enjoyable. Overall, Fear Town, USA was one hell of an indie film. In terms of story, it tosses everything including the kitchen sink at the viewer. The story could have used some fine tuning but the overall film is a must. Don’t pass it up.
The Slashening
Director – Brandon Bassham (Fear Town, USA)
Starring – Anna Callegari (CollegeHumor Originals), Samantha Reece Schecter (The Ghostening), and Elyse Brandau (Coming Out)
Release Date – 2014
Rating – 4/5
I like to think that slashers can be tossed into three categories. The classic slashers from the late 70s and early 80s that followed the same story. The story usually involved someone that was wronged then puts on a random mask and then goes on a killing spree. We then enter the mid-90s where we enter the second category of slashers that are self-aware like the Scream series and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The third category can be combined with the others and that is the slasher comedy. Sadly, we don’t get a lot of slasher comedies but the last year or so has saw the numbers of these rising with one released almost daily. Sometime ago I came across the Facebook page for the slasher The Slashening. The film looked like a self-aware slasher with roots in the classic slasher style. This really intrigued me so I had to check it out. I reached out to the page and they were kind enough to hook me up. Thanks for allowing me to see this!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows five girls as they have a little weekend at home alone drinking and doing drugs. They start drinking while some of them does some heavy drugs when two boys decide to crash the party for a little booze and a game of hide the sausage. However, they are not alone. Someone, or something, wearing a rucksack on their head is slowly picking off each party goer one by one as the others sit ideally by unaware that their friends are being slaughtered. As we make our way to our last remaining party goers we soon discover who the mask murderer is and their motives behind the savagery.**Spoiler Alert**
My initial thought of this film was that I would be watching a slasher in the same vein as the slasher classic Scream. However, when I started watching the film I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a slasher in the same line as the classic slashers that took place at slumber parties and sorority houses while adding a decent amount of humor to the film.
The acting in this film is phenomenal. The entire cast is extremely talented and one of the reasons the movie is so damned enjoyable. Each character was so easy to like while giving the viewer some solid humor. Also, the women were just so damn beautiful! Every female in the film was drop dead gorgeous with my favorite being Beth, the drug addict. The story follows the slumber party slasher cliche that unfolds with a great twist and covered in humor.
The story follows the same as so many other slumber party slashers similar to Slumber Party Massacre where a group of girls is stalked and killed while trying to have a good time. We then get some silly humor thrown in and then it finishes strong with a twist you will not see coming. However, the film does have a weak looking killer that almost takes away from the film.
Finally, the film has several kills that are your typical slasher-esque kills with nothing new. However, they have some decent special effects and plenty of blood. Slasher fans will not be disappointed, Overall, The Slashening is a fun horror experience that has beautiful women, laughs, and plenty of blood. Slasher fans will not want to miss this one!
