Blu Release – 3/5
October Moon
Director – Jason Paul Collum (5 Dark Souls, Safe Inside)
Starring – Sean Michael Lambrecht (October Moon 2: November Son), Jeff Dylan Graham (The Day of the Living Dead, Land Shark), and Jerod Howard (Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire)
Release Date – 2005
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Love is not patient. Love is not kind”
I’ve been collecting the films of J.R. Bookwalter and his Tempe Video for sometime now. With the launch of his Makeflix company he has upgraded several films from DVD to blu which means I’ve been updating my DVD copies to blu as well. However, Makeflix has released a few blus for movies that I never actually owned before. One such release is Jason Paul Collum’s October Moon. When Makeflix announced the release of this one I was excited to check it out. It was one I had never heard of before but I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection. When Black Friday rolled around I went ahead and snagged it for my collection. I’m glad I did because this one really impressed me.
**spoiler Alert** The film follows Elliot (Howard) who gets a job as an assistant to Corin (Lambrecht). Corin is openly gay and in a relationship with the much younger Jake (Graham). Corin can tell that Elliot is secretly gay but Elliot is confused by his sexual identity…that is until he starts spending time with Corin. It’s then that he realizes that he is gay. However, he becomes obsessed with Corin but Corin doesn’t find him attractive. Heartbroken and confused, Eliott sets out to kill the one he can’t have. **Spoiler Alert**
October Moon is one of those movies I would have never went out of my way to see before. In fact, if it wasn’t for MakeFlix I highly doubt I would ever check it out. It just doesn’t look like something I would like but I’m the first to admit that I’m a fucking idiot. I have no issues with it being centered around a questionable gay man. Hell, I’ve watched the gay sexploitation flicks Vinegar Syndrome has released. I’m comfortable enough in my sexuality that stuff like this doesn’t bother me. However, the film looked like it was more a romantic drama with horror sprinkled throughout. That assumption is not far from the truth but it was an entertaining film regardless. I will admit that this one is not for everyone but for those of you looking for an indie production that is more than just torture porn then you may enjoy it.
The acting in this one is very well done. The film’s love triangle, Howard, Graham, and Lambrecht all work incredibly well together. Their characters really feed on one another and their chemistry on screen is unmatchable. We also get some horror royalty delivering solid performances from Night of the Living Dead’s Judith O’Dea and scream queen Brinke Stevens. Sadly, their characters are not huge parts of the story so they are only in the film for filler. The story for this one is a drama centered around a sexually confused deadbeat who gets a job as an assistant to a very successful openly gay man. His success, confidence, and lifestyle opens the lost young man up to who he really is.
The story then transforms from this drama to a dark horror tale of obsession and greed. It’s a very well written story and one I’m sure that really spoke out for it’s time with many people suppressing their true selves in the late 90 and early 00s due to the stigmas being gay presented. With that being said, the movie did not need to be almost 2 hours long. Some of the earlier scenes in the film could be cut to make the movie a little more easier to swallow.
Finally, this is not a brutally violent film. Most horror films, especially from this time, was known for going above and beyond to deliver gore to the viewer. However, October Moon is very character driven and focuses more on the character’s back story and progression. Overall, October Moon is a fantastic film that I would highly recommend to any genre fans. I know some out there are not mature enough to watch a film centered around a gay relationship but for those of you out there that are open to watchng a great story then I recommend checking this one out. The blu release from MakeFlix is not that impressive. The film is presented in full screen and looks as if it was the same scan as the DVD release. What makes this release stand out is the additon of the sequel as one of the special features. It’s well worth the price if you want my honest opinion.
October Moon2: November Son
Director – Jason Paul Collum (Safe Inside, October Moon)
Starring – Sacha Sacket, Judith O’Dea (Night of the Living Dead, Hole in the Wall), and Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre, Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity)
Release Date – 2008
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “It’s time to dig up a few old friends… and bury some new ones”
I ordered the October Moon double feature because I want to support filmmaker J.R. Bookwalter and his MakeFlix brand but these films looked like ones I would typically not watch. However, I went into the first film with an open mind and was absolutely blown away by the film. It may not be the most horror oriented film I’ve seen in recent years but I really enjoyed it. The blu release included the 2008 follow up October Moon 2: November Son which made it a great deal for the price. After watching the first one it only made sense to follow it up with the sequel.
**Spoiler Alert** The film picks up two years after the events of the first film. Several of the people affected by Elliot’s murder is still living day to day dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Eli, an openly gay photographer, moves into the apartment that Elliot once occupied with his fiancé before the murders happened and soon starts working for Elliot’s mother. Soon her gains her trust and she replaces her lost son with Eli before some evil intentions are revealed. **Spoiler Alert**
October Moon is a fantastic film that I would recommend to anyone open to the viewing experience. It is a little too long but it is a well made and put together dark drama. October Moon 2 expands upon the film with new leads and returning characters. It’s fun but the impact of the first film can not be replicated here. Where the first film an be revisited this follow up is a one and done film that just can’t capture what the first film delivers.
The acting in this one is just as good, if not better, than the first film. A good portion of the characters that return have more screen time and do a fantastic job with their performances. The characters have great personalities and they really work. With that being said, the new characters are a little uneven and not as fun or memorable. The story for this one struggles for a bit before it finds it’s footing. The film does expand on the first film but it takes almost an hour for it to do so. I’m all for a movie taking it’s time to establish atmosphere and tension but this one is way too long and filled with unnecessary scenes. Also, the story doesn’t have the same impact as the previous film. It’s almost as if the film was written sometime after the first film and struggled to replace the characters that were murdered. It has it’s moments and is still entertaining but it’s not as fun as the original.
Finally, this is not really a bloody film. We have some make-up effects on “dead” bodies and some blood but those looking for a gory late 00’s horror romp will be very disappointed. Overall, October Moon 2 is a fun watch for fans of the first film but it has no replay value whatsoever. The original film is far superior to this one but this release on blu does look better. The image quality is so much better than the first film.
Special Features:
Original Soundtrack featuring “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” by Pretty Poison
Poison Pumpkins: Looking Back at October Moon 1 & 2
2005 & 2008 Making-of documentaries
Photo Gallery
Thanks so much for kind words and support! I appreciate it. And for those who don’t already know about MakeFlix.com – you SHOULD!! ;)