Hey folks, Harry here with a look at a movie I'm very much looking forward to. To me there is never enought H.P. Lovecraft films in the world. Matter of fact, there are way too few... There are spoilers in this review, and here's hoping that Lionsgate finances a new take on the thing this guy complains about. Literally on a horror film like this, something that small can hurt an awful lot. Here ya go...
So the director that has done Re-Animator, Dolls, and Castle Freak is back with another genre piece. This one is entitled "Dagon" and it's from an H.P. Lovecraft book(sorta). Even though this film does have it's good points and bad points it's a film worthy of checking out.
The basic plot is a group of four people are on a boat. The boat crashes and two of the four go for help in a small town that's within boating range. The reason the other two can't go is because the good ol' leg is trapped and bleeding pretty bad cliche is going on. So the two make it to this small town only to discover that things are a bit weird.
Of course she needs to stay here why you go back to the rescue happens and we find that the two main characters are now separated. What happens next basically a one character driven film. The character finding out that this town isn't only a bit odd but it's obviously dangerous as well. Can you feel the tension yet? Actually it's not that bad.
Some of the shots, mostly the boat shots, have this documentary feel. Basically let me zoom up on a close-up and leave the steady cam at home type of deal. It's not as bad as the famous "Blair Witch pan" but it does have that jittery edge. Relax, it works for the film.
Ok so back to the story eh? Sure will. After our two main characters get separated - a guy and a girl, lovers nonetheless, we find ourselves in the shoes of the guy and the townspeople aren't so friendly. You see these townspeople are actually townsfish. Yeah, that's right.
Apparently the old villagers sold their soles for rock n' roll. . . I mean the old villagers sold their soles for fresh fish. They had some mix up with with the sea bringing the fish on time so they decided on something new. DOWN with Jesus and they turn to a new God. That God does produce the fish but it also "changes" the village.
Yeah so the villagers start to develop gills and as they grow older they start to turn into more of a sea creature. Eventually they will return to the sea but they don't want anyone to find out about their little secret, so SHHhhhhh.
They could have got GILLbert Gotfre for one of the roles and have out trout around the set. Ok it's late and my fish jokes are getting pretty lame so I'm gonna scale down a bit. Ha. . .I kid, I kid.
Some other films that I can compare it to- Evil Dead 2 because the lead had that Ash quality about him. Night of the Living Dead because the gillmen walk around like zombies but instead of moaning you hear a Flipper/dolphine type of cry. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, no we don't have chainsaw wielding fishmen but rather fishmen that carve off human skin and wear is so they can have the feel of being human.
The cut I saw was the director's cut and he didn't want to add too much horror music in there. Instead you will find the should have rain carrying the scene and it does work. The sequences sorta turn into short films of their own. The major flaw that I have with the film is the one bad CGI shot. The entire film was made for three million and you couldn't really guess the budget until the ending. The famous ending/money shot happens and guess what, the money shot only delivers a nickels worth. A cheesy CGI shot can bring a film down I tell yah.
Other then that you will find yourself with an offbeat type of horror.Not totally offbeat but you ever saw Castle Freak you will understand that kind off beat. Castle Freak was a bit better. This film probably won't get a theatrical release in the US but look for it because it will show up somewhere in about four months. A good rental film.
lata
