Director – Patrick Fortin
Release Date – 2020
Rating – 3.5/5
I use social media as a way to discover new indie horror flicks. Because these films never have the extra money for marketing they rely heavily on social media to find an audience so I’m always on the looking out for movies using hashtags on Instagram or befriending indie filmmakers on Facebook.
A few days ago my friends over at Dead Vision Productions announced that a new film was going live for pre-order this Friday (today). The new film, Park Street Diary, was directed by Patrick Fortin. I had befriended Fortin sometime ago but I had never seen any of his films. I commented on the post and after some joking around he messaged me to check out some of his other films. I graciously accepted and started my movie marathon with his 2020 film Carnival of Gore. Thanks Patrick!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a pair of clowns who are cannibals as they murder, eat, and party their way through the countryside. **Spoiler Alert**
I had heard about Carnival of Gore sometime ago when some people I follow on Instagram shared copies of the film on blu I believe it was. The title really caught my attention and the artwork was phenomenal but I forgot to follow up on acquiring a copy for my collection. Aside from the title and it having something to do with clowns that was all that I knew about the film. After watching it I can safely say that I knew about 50% of the film just from the title and artwork alone. The movie is very straight forward but very fun.
The acting in this one is nothing award winning but I really enjoyed the energy the cast brought to the film especially the clowns. They all look like they are having fun on set which translates very well for the scenes.
The story for this one is nothing complicated. We have clowns goofy off when they are not killing and eating people. Simple as that. The film does look like it was two short films put together which I think would be more effective if it was left as two segments instead of one. The film runs for a little over an hour but with the type of story we get it does run a little too long. Seeing it as two shorts would have been far more enjoyable.
Finally, if you want blood and gore then you are luck. The film is filled with practical effects. We get blood, some gore, and lots of props that fit the film well. Some are a little funny to look at and the visual effects are cheesy but the rest are worth noting. Overall, Carnival of Gore doesn’t try to give the viewer the next genre defining film. Instead, it went with a simple and entertaining approach. It was a movie that looks like it was fun to make and just as fun to watch. Check it out.
