Craving

I don't see how anyone could rate this movie favorably. The monster is cool, especially for this no budget video. Prior to that, low achievers in a bar are invaded by more criminally involved druggies who are running from some vigilante citizens group talking about 'the monster'. After nothing happens for 100 minutes, finally the monster appears. The gorefest continues for another 13 minutes, & then we get a 4 word explanation. Aaaaand back to the gorefest for the comedic outro. No perspective, no story - not sure there was even a plot - no atmosphere, no visual interest, dialogue was meaningless...

I venture to say that horror movies perhaps have the most enthusiastic following of all genres of film. CRAVING is a slow starter that gains momentum as it rushes toward the finale . The prime setting is a rural bar inhabited with regulars, doing what they usually do. They are interrupted and threatened by a group of dangerous people who seem to be in great danger themselves and who have been followed by another group just as intense. All very mysterious and confusing until the pieces begin to come together through a series of flashbacks. Extreme close-ups enhance the unfolding action. When the gore finally comes, it is hot and heavy making excellent use of special effects. Michael Turner Tucker, as Carl, has a strong presence and comes across as highly believable in these unusual circumstances.. This film will most likely appeal to the heavy duty horror fan.

For what is effectively a homemade gore film...the special effects are pretty good.

But that's about all the positivity I can throw at this thing.

Because the rest of it is a complete dumpster fire.

Not only is the plot convoluted as all hell.

The story around which it is based is confusing at best.

If only because of it's complete and utter implausibility.

And absolutely horrible dialogue.

It's not just bad.

It's embarrassingly bad.

Though, it's not like they get any help from the actors delivering the lines.

As they are just as atrocious.

The basic premise of the film is that we have one group of masked men, having driven another group of people, into a bar- with a third group of people- who are held hostage by the second group of people, that have been trapped inside the bar by the group of masked individuals.

With one of the people in the bar being a cannibalistic monster, in disguise, of some sort.

Whom the people outside want exposed.

Hence why they have trapped the people in the bar.

As they are holding out until it has to feed.

At least, that's my best guess.

We get the backstory of the bizarre cast of characters in a series of flashbacks that hop all over the place, from time to time, and character to character.

In a way that makes it seem like it was constructed by a child.

What makes things particularly confusing, is that it's never made evidently clear how the two groups came to be in the first place.

The whole thing leaves you with so many questions...

But the best I can tell...is that the masked men outside the bar are a group of vigilantes...who seek to out the monster that killed the one man's family.

That the second group, driven into the bar, were actually there to rob it.

That the two lesbians were planted into the second group, by the leader of the first group, because her brother was also killed by the monster.

And that the people from the bar were sacrificed, because the monster is weakest after it feeds.

But this requires a lot of reading into.

And begs the question...if they knew who the monster was...why didn't they just isolate him when he was drugged?

It almost seems like the perplexity of it all was tactically employed to keep you engaged...by the simple fact you desperately try to piece the convoluted mess together, in an attempt to understand what the hell is actually going on.

Up until the monster makes it's appearance, and it goes into full gore mode.

It's so bad, you can't help but laugh.

But f*** if it's not entertaining.

I wanted to hate this so bad.

But actually found myself kind of liking it, in the end.

Because...all faults aside...

It's so bad...it's endearing.

If only because the monster is quite cool.

And the special effects are badass.

It's still bad.

But it's entertainingly bad.

4.5 out of 10.

Looking to satisfy your CRAVING for a bonkers amount of gory practical effects? Then, "Craving" is what you've been looking for. With the lack of splatter flicks in the Hollywood marketplace, this indie gem comes to the blood-drenched rescue. The film is definitely a slow burn, with a large ensemble cast to introduce and give backstory to, but when it heats up, it goes straight for the jugular. (Literally and figuratively). Juggling the dozen actors inside of one remote bar location does become a bit cumbersome, but when the 3rd act does arrive, it goes completely off the rails to end this indie horror flick with a massive bang. So strap in, get comfy and prepared for a fun gore-soaked rollercoaster ride!

I thought this was going to be a werewolf movie, but it's a bit of something else. For low budget fans, the premise feels familiar but the execution is head and shoulders above most crowdfunded movies.

A group of people spend an evening in a local bar, which i soon invaded by another group of people who seem to have bad intentions. Yet there is another group of people on their trail, giving a dire warning that someone in the bar will turn into a monster and no one will be leaving unless that person is surrendered to them.

The premise makes for some fun tension as we move slowly toward the inevitable - a monster. Most of the gore in this movie really works and the cast is solid. Everyone puts forth a grand effort and makes for a very entertaining watch.