Our film review website was sent a screener of the "Scary Tales Collection 2 pack", which is set for major release later this year.
Having read some reviews for both films, I was interested in seeing what each entry in this low budget series had to offer.
To my surprise, both films moved at a quick pace and each offered their form of "entertainment". Now, why is entertainment in quotation marks?
Well, these little low budget features were oddities. For starters, despite being irrational with their narratives, they seem to intentionally tread familiar ground only to push a cliché so far before completely turning it in your face. Of course, the entertaining factor is the oddness of the production.
SCARY TALES: THE RETURN OF MR. LONGFELLOW
A review by Justin Dyer
5-24-2005
Part 2 in the series, captioned "The Return of Mr. Longfellow" - is a welcome return to campy horror. Instead of taking itself seriously, the film wisely plays itself for clichés and camp factor. Unlike other moderately budgeted independent features, this film doesn't try to "push the envelope", so to speak, in terms of brutality or tasteless imagery. To call this exploitation would be inane. This is clearly a case of a campy film suitable for all ages of the horror spectrum.
While the blood flows nicely and the special effects are well above par for a film in this budgetary range - the unusual array of stories create an arsenal of creativity rarely seen on this production level.
In closing, while this is by no means a perfect film, it does have something for every horror fan. Like most anthology features, it features three tales within a connective tissue - or the "wrap-a-round story" - and which you like best probably depends on which genre of horror you prefer.
It's funny - from all the reviews I'd skimmed through, certain critics were eager to trash the first story while praising the third - and vice-versa. However, the fact none can decide which tale is best would probably best describe how I feel. There is no good or bad tale. All are entertaining. Which you enjoy the most or dislike is clearly dependent on your taste in horror - and, isn't that what a horror anthology is supposed to be? Different?
Camp Value - 10 out of 10 Production Value - 8 out of 10 Acting - 6 out of 10 Screenplay - 8 out of 10 Entertainment - Value 10 out of 10
Overall
10 out of 10
Highly recommended
Having read some reviews for both films, I was interested in seeing what each entry in this low budget series had to offer.
To my surprise, both films moved at a quick pace and each offered their form of "entertainment". Now, why is entertainment in quotation marks?
Well, these little low budget features were oddities. For starters, despite being irrational with their narratives, they seem to intentionally tread familiar ground only to push a cliché so far before completely turning it in your face. Of course, the entertaining factor is the oddness of the production.
SCARY TALES: THE RETURN OF MR. LONGFELLOW
A review by Justin Dyer
5-24-2005
Part 2 in the series, captioned "The Return of Mr. Longfellow" - is a welcome return to campy horror. Instead of taking itself seriously, the film wisely plays itself for clichés and camp factor. Unlike other moderately budgeted independent features, this film doesn't try to "push the envelope", so to speak, in terms of brutality or tasteless imagery. To call this exploitation would be inane. This is clearly a case of a campy film suitable for all ages of the horror spectrum.
While the blood flows nicely and the special effects are well above par for a film in this budgetary range - the unusual array of stories create an arsenal of creativity rarely seen on this production level.
In closing, while this is by no means a perfect film, it does have something for every horror fan. Like most anthology features, it features three tales within a connective tissue - or the "wrap-a-round story" - and which you like best probably depends on which genre of horror you prefer.
It's funny - from all the reviews I'd skimmed through, certain critics were eager to trash the first story while praising the third - and vice-versa. However, the fact none can decide which tale is best would probably best describe how I feel. There is no good or bad tale. All are entertaining. Which you enjoy the most or dislike is clearly dependent on your taste in horror - and, isn't that what a horror anthology is supposed to be? Different?
Camp Value - 10 out of 10 Production Value - 8 out of 10 Acting - 6 out of 10 Screenplay - 8 out of 10 Entertainment - Value 10 out of 10
Overall
10 out of 10
Highly recommended