Co-written with brother Ryan, Brandon Christensen directs latest Shudder exclusive.
Jessica Clement - Deena
Ryan Robbins - Sheriff Rodney Arnold
Summer H. Howell - Emily Goulding
Keegan Connor Tracy - Elizabeth Talbot
Matty Finochio - Officer Butch Cassidy
Max Christensen - Max
Ben Cockell - Chad
David Feehan - The Reaper
Bryn Samuel - Willis
Savannah Miller - Haddie
Summary
Emily Goulding is babysitting Mark and his sister Marina. She soon finds creepy notes placed on teddy bears around the house and realises she's been stalked. Emily is killed by a masked figure, with event recorded to boot.
At some point later, Deena returns to Reedy Creek, where sleepy town is preparing to celebrate Halloween.
Sheriff Rodney Arnold and Officer Butch Cassidy (seriously) are sent Sinister-style snuff tapes entitled The Camper and The Babysitter, of a boy called Connor and Emily being killed respectively.
As the mystery of the killer's identity deepens, Deena and Arnold find themselves embroiled in personal tragedy and family trauma.
Fear does unpredictable things
A thrilling opening sequence teases something special, but that's as good as whodunnit gets.
Unlike classic psychological horrors such as Black Christmas (1974) and When a Stranger Calls (1979), this was rather boring.
Apart from one exploding head (involving a mined walkie-talkie), gore takes a back seat.
While never stated, meat is set at least in 1987, as confirmed by a poster of Robocop inside a drug store. Among the fake VHS tapes is Superhost (2021), another of Brandon Christensen's films.
Clement puts in a commanding shift, retro setting is inspired, and Max (director's real-life son) smashing Centipede on an Atari 2600 raised a smile.
Like so many others in recent times, killer (forest services officer Elizabeth) is assisted by her accomplice and cameraman Chad.
Why did Elizabeth kill Deena's sister Emily? She replies "Why not?"
Err, okay.
Suffice to say, Deena doesn't complete revenge mission and Arnold shoots antagonist dead.
Take a wild guess at which song is used for end credits?
If you said Blue Öyster Cult's (Don't Fear) The Reaper, a prize is on its way.
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