STAGE FRIGHT - THE HALLOWEEN HORRORS COLLECTION

By Guest Reviewer The Creepy Concierge 

Wannabe's, will-be's and never-be's congregate in the woods to perform a summer musical theatre extravaganza only to find themselves on the wrong end of various and sundry pointy, and heavy, implements.

How best to explain STAGE FRIGHT (2014). Take a deep breath ….. it’s a Scream-esque summer camp horror thriller with shades, more than shades actually, of Phantom of the Opera, GLEE and every Craven knock-off you’ve had the pleasure or otherwise of enduring in the post-SCREAM scramble for teen dollars and eyeballs. Phew.

Depending on your point of view it’ll either blow your socks off or have you groaning at the admittedly brave genre mixture mash up of horror and musical theatre. Oh yeah, there’s a masked killer to boot.  The underrated Allie McDonald (HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET) carries the leading lady duties here and she’s suitably beguiling as a camp attendee with a familial secret. A secret that links her to a bloody tragedy at the isolated theatre school in the woods. She’s the mystery at the heart of the mystery and is never less than compelling to watch as she navigates every trope the film and the genre has to offer.

The ever-reliable Minnie Driver (Will & Grace) has a pivotal cameo that she pulls off so successfully you can’t imagine anyone else playing the role. Though relatively short her on-screen moments stay with you long after the prologue. Meat Loaf brings some much need character comedy to the proceedings and the supporting cast are by turns annoying, funny and ultimately quite tragic, as their dreams of stardom are dashed by a lunatic with a blood lust. And there is plenty of blood.  The whole shebang is awash with it and it's definitely not a film for the squeamish. 

The whole affair has a look and feel that punches way above its middling budget weight and feels like everyone involved put their back into making sure it's 'B' movie roots at least looked and played like an 'A' title.  Production design is suitably authentic and the camp location completely convinces as a stage school in the middle of nowhere. Cinematography is lush and saturated with real retro grit that gives the images a tangible solidity. Sound design is put to very good use but it's the choice of accompanying score that might be a thorn in the side of 'trad' horror fans as it leans more to 'Tenor' than terror.

Can a throwback slasher really work with a musical theatre style score? Yes and no, but Stage Fright delivers on its odd premise and you should probably reward the Director (Jerome Sable – Bite Size Horror and Monstagram) by giving it at least one spin for having the sheer stones to try it.

Watch for free by clicking here STAGE FRIGHT  or click on W4FREE where you can watch all our monstrously good movies in the THE HALLOWEEN HORRORS COLLECTION for free.