A Halloween Feast

That was twisted... definitely not a 10, or a 9. I was going to give this title a 7 (entertaining, campy, fun, weird, strange, imperfect, out there .... but after the big final twist revelation at the end, which I will not reveal here, I decided to up to an 8 just because of that. Holy darn I have never seen such inappropriate situation in any movie ever -- and because of my "holy Sh***" moment I had to up it a bit and I know it's higher than most horror type movies you see out there who are far better technically with better production -- but darn that ending had me not being able to sleep at night (which is good for a movie like this) wholly molly folks.

It was surprising the vast gap between the apparent current "ratings" and reviews and the actual movie.

This plays like a typical classic bad tv movie with general nobodies or unknowns.

If you can tolerate that sort of quality of production you might indeed just find things to enjoy buried under that budget value mass produced poor quality controlled content.

Personally the every general aspect from the lackluster display of fx or the simple audio which while not horrible or by any means the worst of the worst or exceptionally bad it embraces fully that tv movie median level of quality.

I think this plants it soundly below a 5 and at a 4 for me although certainly i could understand rating it in the range between the two.

I simply didn't have the capacity to find even one lifeline to cling to like the one semi decent actor or perhaps that one good performance or bit of writing.

On paper at a glance the concept sounds promising but the reality is simply cold and hard and glaring.

If you have more expectation for A Halloween Feast beyond its reality prepare for an early famine leading into the cold lean winter of the season.

This awkwardly is hiding behind its own halloween mask of seemingly paid reviews or deeply biased and shameless self promotion that seems a common trend these days evidenced usually by very early low numbers in the ratings to indicate the disingenuous promotional campaign tactic on the cheap for the cheap.

The best way to watch this would be under a cheap ghost costume where you don't cut the eyeholes out of the sheet.

I went to see this movie even though it was way out of my comfort zone. The cast was excellent and played off each other well. It was like a bunch of talented friends got together and created a "feast for viewing." The use of comic relief in the midst of tragedy was brilliant. Shakespeare himself would have been proud of the writers for scenes such as the one where three tough guys had to take a city bus to go rough up someone who owed them money. And if you like irony, Mark, the character who spouts Nietzsche hoping to help others find fulfillment, experiences what it is really like to live in a world where "God is dead."

Every now and then, a horror-comedy comes along that feels like a potluck party: it's got a little of everything, some hits and some misses, but overall, you're glad you showed up. A Halloween Feast, directed by Guile Branco, is exactly that. It blends campy scares with quirky humor, dishes out nostalgia with every frame, and tops it all off with seasoned performances from genre veterans like Lynn Lowry. It's not the scariest horror-comedy you'll ever see, but it's certainly a tasty treat worth savoring.

What begins as a Halloween dinner soon turns into a nightmare, with blood, laughs, and an otherworldly twist. The movie is self-aware without being too meta, relying on horror tropes but giving them a lighthearted twist.

Branco seems to understand that the magic of horror-comedies lies in striking the right balance between absurdity and genuine tension. He leans into the absurd, which helps A Halloween Feast stand out. Instead of pushing too heavy on the jump scares, he plays with audience expectations, keeping things just unpredictable enough to be engaging. It's more "creepy chuckles" than "scream-your-face-off" horror, but that's exactly where the movie shines.

The Main Course: Performances that Hit the Spot

One of the film's main ingredients for success is its cast, with Lynn Lowry delivering a standout performance. For those who remember her iconic roles in 70s horror cult classics (Shivers, The Crazies), she brings a delicious mix of menace and charm. Lowry is fully in her element here, her expressive eyes and icy calm making even the most ludicrous lines feel grounded in something real. She knows how to play the dark humor, expertly walking the line between creepy and campy.

The rest of the cast, in contrast, brings a more straightforward comedic energy, caught in increasingly bizarre situations. The timing is sharp, and the chemistry off-kilter that keeps the movie moving.

Side Dishes: Humor and Horror in Unequal Measure

The film's humor is its strongest asset, the comedic elements are hit!

Looks like Angela Long is acting strange, she retires from teaching - but was formerly a dancer) and suddenly starts to kill pets. (trigger warning). Her family deals with it the best they can until on a family dinner Angela cuts off her husbands finger and feeds it down his throat. This is within the first 5 minutes folks.

It goes from there to worse. A psychiatrist is hired to oversee her release back home (why? Why? Why?) played by the brilliant Lou D'Amato as Dr. Park and soon it's blatantly obvious it's a huge mistake.

I could keep going, but this film is the most unpredictable film I have ever seen. ... It's definitely not as good as Bonafide Hollywood movies (looks like this had a real low budget) - but I really enjoyed this a bit more than "Serial Mom", the 1994 Kathleen Turner starrer, because the story has so many layers. I could keep going but...

I'd say give this a shot!