Butchers Bluff

While I had indeed never heard about this 2023 horror movie titled "Butchers Bluff" prior to sitting down to watch it here in 2025, I needed no persuasion to do so. Why? Well, it was a movie that I hadn't already seen. And it was also a horror movie, and I am a big fan of all things horror.

The movie's cover was actually the reason why I stopped and took notice of the movie. It was interesting, but at the same time just oozed with a particular low budget, cheesy slasher feel.

The narrative in the movie is pretty slow paced. Sure, the movie starts out nicely enough, but then falls into a sluggish slump and just slowly waddles onwards. So writers William Instone and Renfield Rasputin didn't exactly put together a particularly exciting or entertaining script and storyline. In fact, it was a bit of a struggle to sit through the movie. After what felt like an hour of nothing much happening, I checked the timer on the movie, and only 32 minutes had passed.

Sure, I harbored zero expectations to directors William Instone and Matt Rifley's movie, as it just had a particular low budget feel to it, and the familiar names on the cast list aren't exactly known for their blockbuster movies. But I still opted to watch it and give it the benefit of the doubt.

The movie does have some familiar talents on the cast list, such as Jeremy London, Bill Oberst Jr. And Brinke Stevens. The acting in "Butchers Bluff" were fair, despite the fact that the actors and actresses didn't really have much to work with in terms of script.

My rating of directors William Instone and Matt Rifley's 2023 horror movie "Butchers Bluff" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.

The other reviews will be best for finding out about the film. Mine is more about bringing some balance.

I came across this title by accident and was excited when I saw a 7/10 on IMDb. 7/10 is pretty difficult for horror films to get so thought oh this must be great. Nope, acting was mid and disjointed, editing was off - always too long a pause between characters, pacing was very slow with no real payoff in either creepiness or scares. Other than sharing 80's tropes this really doesn't feel like 80's horror at all. More like everything else Tubi has at the moment.

The 7/10 must be bot inflated because whilst this is not a bad horror film it really is just very average so would realistically be around 4/10.

Butchers Bluff gets off to an appropriate start with a gratuitous display of breasts as a couple go at it in a pick up. And it's not long after that that they fall victim to The Hogman, an escaped mental patient named Alex (William Instone, The Sawyer Massacre, Damsel of the Doomed), who allegedly lives in this stretch of woods and is responsible for 28 deaths over the past twenty years.

This has caught the attention of a group of college students, after Roger (Michael Fischer, Up on the Housetop, A Stream That Led to Nowhere ) stumbles upon the story, and he and his associates Nicole (Paige Steakley, Sacred Mask, Lowriders vs Zombies from Space) and Derick (Johnny Huang, Attack of the Unknown, Fear the Walking Dead) decide to make a film a documented on the subject for their next assignment for Prof. Hooper's class and for a bit of fun on the side, they bring along their friends Samantha(Samantha Holland,The Massacre on Halloween Night,Eyes of a Roman) Tina (Kayla Anderson,When Wendy Grew Up, Generation Hope)Bobby (Dakota Millett, Time to Fight, Alita: Battle Angel) and Jake (Santiago Sky, Hollow Lake, The Blood Order) for some after hours partying, what else is there to do in the middle of nowhere?

In the moonlit thickets of Texas, where shadows whisper of forgotten sins, Butcher's Bluff (2023), directed by William Instone and Matt Rifley, unleashes a blood-soaked love letter to the slasher golden age. This indie horror gem follows a group of Austin film students-led by Michael Fischer's earnest Roger, Paige Steakley's haunted Nicole, and Johnny Huang's brash Derick-who venture into the eerie hamlet of Emerald Falls to document the legend of the Hogman, a pig-masked killer tied to 28 vanishings over two decades. Written by Instone and Renfield Rasputin, produced by Instone, Rifley, and a dedicated micro-budget crew, and backed by Breaking Glass Pictures, this film revels in its 1980s-inspired carnage while carving out a distinct, if uneven, place in the modern horror canon.

From the opening frame-a lurid, breast-baring pickup truck tryst that ends in a brutal Hogman ambush-Butcher's Bluff grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Instone and Rifley's direction channels the raw, unpolished energy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), with Joe Castro's practical gore effects delivering jaw-dropping kills: think heads cleaved in half and bodies skewered with grotesque ingenuity. The Hogman (played with hulking menace by Instone himself) is a standout, his hand-stitched pig mask looming like a nightmare stitched from Leatherface and Jason Voorhees' DNA. The cinematography, led by Robert T. McDorman and Ronald Mercado, paints Emerald Falls with a gritty, sepia-toned dread, while the soundscape is a visceral triumph. Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey, wielding his re-recording mixing and sound editing prowess, crafts an auditory slaughterhouse-every squelch of blood, snap of bone, and rustle of leaves pulses with primal terror, amplifying the Hogman's presence into a sonic specter that haunts long after the credits roll. Johnston's work, like a butcher's cleaver, cuts through the film's low-budget constraints, making each kill resonate with bone-chilling clarity.

The cast, peppered with horror veterans like Bill Oberst Jr., Brinke Stevens, and Paul T. Taylor's grizzled Sheriff Joe, brings surprising depth to a familiar setup. Fischer's Roger is a relatable everyman, while Steakley's Nicole offers a compelling emotional tether to the killer's lore, hinting at deeper traumas. The film's themes-bullying's lasting scars, the voyeuristic thrill of urban legends-add a layer of psychological heft, though it never strays far from its gleeful body count. Cameos from Felissa Rose and Tuesday Knight are delicious nods to slasher fandom, ensuring a wink to those in the know.

Yet, Butcher's Bluff isn't without its missteps. Clocking in at a bloated two hours, the pacing sags in the middle, with some scenes lingering like a guest who overstays their welcome at a bloodbath. The script, while earnest, occasionally leans on tired tropes-stoner sidekicks and disposable locals-that feel more derivative than homage. Characters like Samantha (Samantha Holland) and Bobby (Dakota Millett) could use more fleshing out to earn their gruesome fates. These flaws, though, are forgivable in a film that swings so boldly for the fences on a shoestring budget.

Butcher's Bluff earns a robust 8/10-a must-watch for slasher purists craving a nostalgic gut-punch. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Hatchet (2006) for its unapologetic gore and The Burning (1981) for its campfire-legend vibe, cementing Instone as a director to watch. Johnston's sound work, in particular, deserves a standing ovation, turning every scream into a symphony of dread.

In the end, Butcher's Bluff reminds us that fear lurks not just in the woods, but in the echoes of our own cruelty, amplified by a soundscape that cuts as deep as the Hogman's blade.

Dr. Elias Dread.

I had been waiting for this movie for a couple of years. I was excited to buy the DVD from Amazon and I'm pleased that it has hit several streaming platforms. I have watched the movie once so far and will revisit again, as I usually get a more in depth experience the second viewing.

My first impressions are good. I loved the way this was shot. It had several interesting camera shots. Scenes were setup well and the lighting was good. Good audio capture occurred (that is a mark of competence that not all low budget movies can claim). I liked the story of local folklore that turned to almost legend status and the slow reveal of the truth. The main characters were interesting enough to keep my interest, the locations were fun to look at, the effects were well done, and the acting was good. I really enjoyed the look of the killer. Bill Oberst Jr. Stole the movie for me. He brought the right amount of creepiness and foreboding energy this type of story needs. This has a very classic slasher feel and quality. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I hope to see more of William Instone's work in the future.