Chompy & the Girls

When a troubled daughter turns up to meet the father who never knew she existed, they both witness a bizarre killing and go on the run from the relentless perpetrator.

Zany sci-fi horror that sort of mashes up It Follows with Body Snatchers. The opening scene is excellent and really got me hooked, but what comes after that is patchy entertainment. While the energy and the concept are engaging and the two lead performances good, I think this needed more development at the storyboard stage.

One mark of an undercooked story is that half the dialogue comes in the form of questions, and most of the scenes ramble around before deciding to put in a plot point. That looseness takes the snap out of the humour, and while there is character development it doesn't feel earned.

Still, the characters are likeable, and the switch of direction at the halfway mark allows the story to end on a satisfying note, with a reassuring reflection on how we can adapt to life, no matter how desperate our plight.

The music is light, some ominous stuff to accompany Chompy and the girls, and the camera work and lighting do give some ordinary locations a sense of spooky isolation.

Overall: Heart in the right place, slightly off on the writing.