government

Too much of a good thing can be deadly. Just ask me after I’ve eaten too many of those chocolate frosted cake donuts from the corner 7-11. Meanwhile, writer-director Jason Zink explores how honorable intentions can turn eviseratingly militant in his survivalist horror effort Straight Edge Kegger.

Here, our hero Brad (Cory Kays) has started to grow tired of the violent antics of James (Julio Alexander), his straight edge brother in arms. While once James had protected the streets and defended the innocent, he now uses his leadership to violently squash anyone behaving in a way that he doesn’t like. Thus, Brad falls under the influence of a happy go lucky party hound named Sean (Sean Jones). When James discovers that Brad is attending a house rave with his newfound companion, he and his crew set out to punish their former associate with maniacal precision. Locking down the home, they soon are brutally killing off the formerly blissful drunk and drugged revelers. It is up to Brad, who understands James’ mindset, Sean and Maybe (Evey Reidy), a girl that Brad has developed a crush on, to find a way to defeat the unrepentant slaughterers before they join the other unfortunate victims of James’ murderous rage.

Nicely, akin to Chris Moore and his 2018 savagely fun effort Triggered, Zink skillfully exposes how being too extremist in one’s views is never a good thing, no matter the intentions. Ultimately, James, magnetically played by Alexander, and his throng remind one of our current political leaders whom have established a social landscape where aggressive behavior is encouraged against anyone falling outside of the straight, white norm.

As with many genre exercises, one does have to let go of disbelief a bit as James and his crew make their way steadily through both punk rock celebrants and law enforcement officials with ease. But the gore is swift and vicious and executed with a sense of glee. The performances, particularly those of Kays and Alexander, are also solid, making this low budget offering both a thrilling exploitation ride and a potentially powerful think piece, as well.

More information on Straight Edge Kegger is available at https://www.facebook.com/StraightEdgeKegger/.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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debbie fort doom Post-election week there may, surprisingly, not be a more appropriate horror film to watch than 2004’s Fort Doom. A low budget, seemingly home grown effort, this feature stars the always compelling Debbie Rochon and the eternally gothic Billy Drago, who gives a very disturbing, leveled performance as one of the production’s not so red herring villains here.

The film itself follows the Southern adventures of Lacy Everett (Rochon) and her group of working girls as they set up shop in a seemingly idyllic community. The Civil War has been recently fought and lost, and while there is emotional fallout to be found everywhere, hope abounds, as well. That is until Everett and her ladies discover that a serial killer is loose in their new tightly locked home base. As folks begin to disappear and it looks like all evidence points to the demented town mortician (Drago), it soon appears that a deeper, more deadly conspiracy at hand.

As with many indie terror efforts, there are many passages of stationary dialoging here. One also almost wishes that the producers had picked a different period of time to recreate due to the college theater costuming alone. While some of Rochon’s outfits have a bit of a stream punk effect, more than anything it is obvious that the budget did not allow for a real life recreation of the clothes that the characters would have actually worn in this era. Kind viewers will find that this gives the enterprise an enjoyable silliness, though. Others, well… Fort Doom.jpg

Surprisingly, what is not silly here is how accurately screenwriter Matthew Howe, who developed the story with the film’s director J. Christian Ingvordsen, seemingly predicated our current misogynistic and racist government controlled by powerful white men. Willing to do anything to stay in power, the vengeful founding father types in this film ultimately serve as a chilling prophecy and a reminder of how this destructive mindset has always existed in our culture.

That Rochon, who has survived her own share of personal hardships over the years, is our stand-in here, supplying strength and resolve and sassiness, is also a plus and an assurance that perhaps, like her Lacy, we will truly rise above this current regime, as well.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Big Gay Horror Fan

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Review: Fort Doom