Ralph (writer / director / star Mike Cartel) and Jason (Al Valletta) are two dopey worm farmers in Death Valley. One day they witness the burial of a young woman - who wasn't dead - and by rescuing her, they leave themselves vulnerable to the machinations of a female cult. The ladies in this cult are lovely and deadly, and their great plan - other than turning Ralph and Jason into sex slaves - is to pilfer a case of platinum from the Mafia.
"Runaway Nightmare" is not going to be for people who prefer lots of action and explosions every few minutes. It's a very sedately paced and quirky little oddity. Cartel is much more concerned with surrealism and nuance than in delivering anything resembling a conventional narrative. His film isn't altogether satisfying, and some people may find it tough to stick with. The acting is obviously going to be of the amateur variety, yet Cartel himself has an enjoyably deadpan manner and gets to utter some funny lines. He and Valletta do make for an amusing pair of buddies. Among our striking female antagonists are Seeska Vandenberg, and Cindy Donlan as the memorably named Hesperia.
On location shooting is a big plus; Cartel gives "Runaway Nightmare" some interesting atmosphere. Melding genres such as horror, crime, and exploitation, it's basically for the more adventuresome of lovers of cult and forgotten cinema. Some buffs might get a big kick out of the ending, which pays tribute to a particular film noir classic. Cartel maintains a very low key approach even in those sequences that would ordinarily be treated as major set pieces. This is also mildly titillating but never overtly trashy.
Six out of 10.
"Runaway Nightmare" is not going to be for people who prefer lots of action and explosions every few minutes. It's a very sedately paced and quirky little oddity. Cartel is much more concerned with surrealism and nuance than in delivering anything resembling a conventional narrative. His film isn't altogether satisfying, and some people may find it tough to stick with. The acting is obviously going to be of the amateur variety, yet Cartel himself has an enjoyably deadpan manner and gets to utter some funny lines. He and Valletta do make for an amusing pair of buddies. Among our striking female antagonists are Seeska Vandenberg, and Cindy Donlan as the memorably named Hesperia.
On location shooting is a big plus; Cartel gives "Runaway Nightmare" some interesting atmosphere. Melding genres such as horror, crime, and exploitation, it's basically for the more adventuresome of lovers of cult and forgotten cinema. Some buffs might get a big kick out of the ending, which pays tribute to a particular film noir classic. Cartel maintains a very low key approach even in those sequences that would ordinarily be treated as major set pieces. This is also mildly titillating but never overtly trashy.
Six out of 10.