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| Images Courtesy of Cranked Up Films |
Caleb Harris' new feature film, Gothic Slayers is
a hilarious, heartfelt homage to brotherly friendship, arrested development,
and maniacal satanic cults. Heavy on the laughs and light on the terror,
this is a film that is made not only for indie comedy fans, but also fans of
metroidvania style video games and mini golf (but never, ever call it
Putt-Putt). Featuring a talented ensemble, a plethora of game sound
effects, and a surprising amount of heart, this is one of the year's best films
thus far.
Ben and Dylan are two hapless employees of a mini golf park who are unwittingly drawn into a conspiracy when one of their best friends is kidnapped by a demonic cult with dark motives, placing not only their lives, but the safety of the entire town in danger. What follows is a fun, if predictable story of brotherhood, wonder, and kick ass girl scouts. Ben Getz and Dylan Eshbaugh (who also star) wrote the script. One of the strongest components is how witty the dialogue is. It is clear that the two writers are lifelong friends and wanted to make a picture about the trials and travails of two best friends whose lives begin to grow in different directions. While it is a genre mashup (horror, comedy, video games, etc.) it never feels truly outlandish, and the independent budget only enhances the experience. The script does a remarkable job of building a lived in community that feels alive, filled with interesting locales and a rogue’s gallery of bizarre personalities.
Taylen Anderson's cinematography is the final piece, bringing everything together. The colors and shadows that shift between the supernatural sequences and the mundane are perfectly organic, creating an undeniable feeling that there are two worlds to this manic slice of American suburbia. Nathaniel Trahan's production design is the perfect accoutrement, with every set piece feeling both comedically natural and otherworldly, the height of which is a sequence in Ben's home and an extremely awkward lunch with his parents.
Now available for digital rental, Gothic Slayers is a breezy horror-comedy that wears its pop culture geekiness as a badge of honor. A passion project that was clearly made by a cast and crew with nothing but love and adoration for the medium, this is a fun popcorn affair, akin to a more wholesome fusion of Grandma's Boy and Kevin Smith films. If you are interested in a light, laugh inducing occult mystery, this will not disappoint.
--Kyle Jonathan