After being dazzled from Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes (2021-also reviewed) I decided to double bill it with a "First Blood" screening/stream at FrightFest. Picking one of the titles out of the section totally at random, I prepared for the screams to start.
View on the film:
Discussing in a interview after the screening/stream about all the various non-movie projects (stage shows, festivals etc) he and the cast/crew had done before this title, co-writer (with lead actor Ed Hartland) / director Conor Boru makes a excellent feature film debut which runs like a well-oiled machine, thanks to Boru & cinematographer Adrian Musto closely working with editor Alan Rae to pair every killer one-liner with a killer set-piece.
Sitting in on the first "family" meeting with very funny match cuts from Rae, Boru refreshingly goes for a mock-doc, rather then Found Footage style, which allows for stylish whip-pans, zoom-ins and slow-motion catching each off the cuff funny one-liner each member makes.
Whilst making this a humorous odd bunch, Boru impressively does not shy away from presenting their murderous ways in a brutal manner,with nail gun close-ups on the killings the cackling family commit, which unleashes a spray of gore which pours out until the screaming fades.
Hoping to make a name for themselves as serial killers, the ensemble cast give gripping live-wire performances,with Ed Hartland dead-pan slicing into Mendle's anxiety about committing murder,whilst dreaming of becoming a famous serial killer, and Kave Niku hilariously steals every scene he is in as the out of the loop Masoud.
Getting the family all together, the screenplay by Hartland and Boru displays real superb comedic skill by cleverly giving each member of the family their moment to shine with deadly one-liners, from creepy twins Viktoria and Veronika to burning hot sociopath Amy, who all make end their family meeting when the screaming starts.
View on the film:
Discussing in a interview after the screening/stream about all the various non-movie projects (stage shows, festivals etc) he and the cast/crew had done before this title, co-writer (with lead actor Ed Hartland) / director Conor Boru makes a excellent feature film debut which runs like a well-oiled machine, thanks to Boru & cinematographer Adrian Musto closely working with editor Alan Rae to pair every killer one-liner with a killer set-piece.
Sitting in on the first "family" meeting with very funny match cuts from Rae, Boru refreshingly goes for a mock-doc, rather then Found Footage style, which allows for stylish whip-pans, zoom-ins and slow-motion catching each off the cuff funny one-liner each member makes.
Whilst making this a humorous odd bunch, Boru impressively does not shy away from presenting their murderous ways in a brutal manner,with nail gun close-ups on the killings the cackling family commit, which unleashes a spray of gore which pours out until the screaming fades.
Hoping to make a name for themselves as serial killers, the ensemble cast give gripping live-wire performances,with Ed Hartland dead-pan slicing into Mendle's anxiety about committing murder,whilst dreaming of becoming a famous serial killer, and Kave Niku hilariously steals every scene he is in as the out of the loop Masoud.
Getting the family all together, the screenplay by Hartland and Boru displays real superb comedic skill by cleverly giving each member of the family their moment to shine with deadly one-liners, from creepy twins Viktoria and Veronika to burning hot sociopath Amy, who all make end their family meeting when the screaming starts.