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| Images Courtesy of Cranked Up Pictures |
There is quite possibly no better film genre than movies that
are about movies. Ian Courtney's indie horror thriller, Movie Theater
Massacre is not only a loving tribute to the days of celluloid, but also a
sly critique of film culture in today's divisive social media wasteland.
Featuring a talented ensemble, several laugh out loud moments, and a
creative approach to a familiar premise, this is an inventive horror film with
a lot on its mind.
During the final days of an independent theater, the soon be unemployed staff spend their time pontificating on the nature of cinema and entertainment. Unbeknownst to them, a masked killer is on the loose, and when these two forces meet, the fate of the theater shall forever be changed. Courtney's script is packed with "in jokes" for film lovers. Within the first 5 minutes, The Criterion Collection is referenced and the winks and nods only amp up as the narrative progresses. At its core, this is essentially a hang out movie, a vibe, with a preternatural killer thrown into the mix. One of the strongest aspects is the cast, and their chemistry with one another and it is reflected not only in the fun discourse but in how this picture shows the most powerful attributes of an independent, local theater: How it brings a community together.
Despite the masked killer angle, this is more so about the employees who sell you tickets, concessions, and watch the movie in uniform from the hallway leading into the theater. It is about your favorite film, and the first time you saw it on the big screen. It is about the shared visual experience and how that is dying to the instant gratification of online streaming, perhaps what the masked killer symbolizes. Ultimately, Courtney and his team are clearly cinephiles with a deep love of not only the art, but of how it makes the world a better place, and despite the machine gun pacing, the entire experience is both intimate and hopeful.
Now available for digital rental, Movie Theater Massacre is a sweet send up to the memories we make with our friends, family, and community members when we experience the magic of the cinema. Light, breezy, and genuinely funny, this is a an exceptionally well crafted story that uses its meager budget and independent talent to present a fun and memorable love letter to the cineplex that the audience will not soon forget.
--Kyle Jonathan