Hey folks, Harry here... This sounds interesting. Derek Flint is a long time contributor to AICN - so he's been a dependable voice coming out of Test screenings for years. Here ya go...
Tonight I went to a screening that surprised me. It’s a Direct To DVD horror flick coming out from Warner Brothers that also sports Joel Silver’s name on it. Produced by Robert Meyer Burnett, who helmed the much loved cult fave “Free Enterprise,” this new unabashed horror entry unspooling tonight was called “The Hills Run Red.” The story bears a similarity to the best episode of “Masters of Horror” co-written by a guy well known to AICN readers, Drew McWeeny. Like John Carpenter’s “Cigarette Burns,” this is a tale hinging on a search for a legendary, lost horror film with a notorious reputation. “The Hills Run Red,” which is also the name of the film within a film, is a rather extreme meditation on torture porn, but employing more traditional suspense techniques other than just wanton gore. Trust me, it’s there in abundance… but so is a clear intent to build up tension and surprise the viewer by riffing on conventions. For example, the contrivance of potential victims never being armed if deftly dealt with. Rather savagely, in fact. While the performances of the three leads in jeopardy are standard issue teens in peril types, the film is illuminated by the exceptional work of Sophie Monk in a very demanding role. All her talents are on display here, both physical and dramatic. To call her acting fearless would be an understatement. When we first meet her, she’s grinding topless in a strip club and doesn’t don much more clothing throughout. Besides being great eye candy, her allure serves to misdirect you from the character’s ultimate fate. While Monk may have surprised me, William Sadler did not. I expected him to be great and he was, in the pivotal role of the film director whose opus instigates this shocking quest. Sadler is totally credible as both a maniac and movie director, albeit they’re often one in the same, especially in his desire not to relinquish control as others succumb to the madness his work inspires. Let’s just say his contempt for actors doesn’t allow them more than one take. Amusingly, I noticed none other than director Tom Holland in the screening and Sadler bears a striking physical resemblance to this veteran of “Fright Night” and “Child’s Play." Speaking of direction, there is some accomplished work here from the guy calling the shots: Dave Parker. His IMDB oeuvre seems to mostly consist of=2 0editing and directing bonus features for DVDs. Parker takes this hackneyed material and elevates it with true style, an eye for detail and slick production values. This film looks as good or better than some theatrically released slasher flicks. Given a bigger budget and stronger screenplay, I’m betting his will be a name you’ll be hearing more from soon. I’ve heard “The Hills Run Red” is playing the film festival circuit in advance of a DVD release in October. Whether the queue you wait for is at a theater or on Netflix, “The Hills Run Red” is well worth your time. Sophie and Sadler make for a very potent combination onscreen. Madman and victim will never be the same again. Your man, Derek Flint
