Fatal Exam

In a way it reminds me of those incredibly talky 1940's / 50's crime serials where conversation was just a vehicle to explain every last detail and consequence to the audience.

The real stunner to me is the total disregard for the 90-minute runtime that was so integral to the success of the cheap 80's horror genre. Two hours? You're insane!

I can't give it less than three stars, though. That's reserved for movies that proselytize without entertaining, that pursue b-movie charm synthetically and intentionally, or that engage in other bad faith movie-making behavior.

This is shot-on-video. There are no trained actors, models, or bodybuilders. Just a bunch of average kids trying to make a movie, and in that way, it's kind of endearing. There's cheap murder, not-too-terrifying glints of death and an honest attempt to make a movie the entire group would be proud of.

Above all, though, there's just too much damn talking, too much explaining, and too much runtime.

Three stars for effort. Watch if you have a really laissez-faire attitude about how your time is spent...and want to see a kid solve a demon problem with a handgun.