As the Village Sleeps

Yo, peep this: "As The Village Sleeps" ain't your typical horror flick-it's a timeless tale with a crew of fly young cats teetering on the edge of life and death. It's more about that thriller vibe, tapping into your mind's eye to stir up some serious fear. They play it slick, leaving most of the scary bits to your own imagination-mad effective and hits close to home.

What really makes this joint stand out is how it tells a banging story on a tight budget. It's a salute to low-budget filmmaking done right, capturing that suspense and thrill without dropping stacks. Most horror flicks go for the flashy, but this one? It's all about that subtle game and storytelling prowess, earning its spot in the suspense scene, no doubt.

I read the storyline of this film and that alone put me off. Sometimes it's good not to know any of the actors however that usually only works if the film has plus points in all or most of the other departments, which THIS TRIPE doesn't, NOT in a single one. I watched the first 29 minutes because I was hoping something, anything was going to happen to put some life into it but nothing did. More life exists in a morgue believe me. So, acting was excruciatingly bad, not even at amateur level. Script awful, juvenile behaviour throughout. Photography by way of landscapes, etc non-existent. The characters were like 20 going on 70. Horrid backing music. Give this a wide berth even if someone offers you money to watch it - DON'T.

We open on a car pulling over to the side of a desolate road - the woman inside goes to bury something in the dirt and set it alight. Only to be disturbed and runs back to the car, the guy who was driving is missing and we hear ominous growling as she is dragged out of the car by an unseen force.

I went into this blindly and with that opening I assumed it was demons haha. I was wrong! What starts off as an indie film with questionable acting is actually a fun (bad but enjoyable once you find out what kind of bad) werewolf movie! Or is it?!

The main group are staying at a cabin on a Native Reservation when they decide to play a card game (I think it was either called Lynched or Townsfolk) which marks players as werewolves, civillians, a witch and a cat. Cut to the next scene where they're all waking up, seemingly drugged and realising that the game is real and they're being hunted. Through hazy memories and splitting up, some start to turn on each other, others banding together to try and figure out the mystery of whom the werewolf is to survive by sunrise.

I mentioned the questionable acting, and it is very questionable at that, however the werewolf makeup designs, film score and just plain wanting to find out who would end up being hunted next kept me watching.

As The Village Sleeps is out now on Prime Video!

Well this is an indie film worth watching! As a filmmaker, really enjoyed the cinematography and the tone. It felt a little like stranger things meets teen wolf as far as tone/vibe. Really enjoyed that. I love watching these gems as an indie filmmaker myself. Acting was on point for the material, it never takes itself too seriously and I mean that in the best way. Shots and lighting were really well done. I wont give anything away but, it has its twists, but also knows when to hone it in and let the characters work. For what they sought out to do, I thought they did a great job! Check this out!

The only reason that I haven't rated this movie as a 1 is that the camera work and editing are reasonable enough.

That is where any praise at all ends.

The script is terrible and the acting is (on the most part) even worse. The plot is weak and any attempt to build tension fails dismally, partly but not completely, due to the ineffective score.

I can't stress enough: this isn't one of those films that is "so bad it's good". It's just plain bad.