The Wretched
Horror fans, rejoice. Some of your fondest memories of the great 80's cheese movies will be reinvigorated after a viewing of Daniel B. Iske's "The Wretched". This writer, inspiring director, and fellow avid horror fan, was reminded of Sam Raimi's classic "Evil Dead". Hilarious, tense, violent, and memorable; the filmmakers have taken what they have learned and applied it with great effectiveness to their own film. There's the classic camp fire ghost story, the suspenseful shower scene, the bloody deaths; we all could of been watching a movie that really was from the early 70's and 80's.
So, how does this film set itself apart amongst the thousands of renditions, re-dos, and throwbacks? How can the filmmakers possibly make their film memorable? It's all in the characters; they are effectively built through quick, funny dialog. They will remind you of your own friends, relatives, neighbors; they are easily identifiable. The writing is spot on, and the script seems to move through the story effortlessly; the whole film flows. But, what sets it apart the most is that this little indie film, that was made for no money at all, looks fantastic. It is surprisingly seamless, and actually looks better than most low budget B horror films that you can buy at the local video store. With their immense creativity and problem solving skills, Iske and Co. were able to bypass what seemed to be a huge setback, and instead thought of it as: "more money, more problems." For all filmmakers, and especially those of the Indie variety, this statement is immensely true. You have to be able to look at every scene, every detail, and think "how can I make this look professional and slick without any cash?" The filmmakers answer is one that draws upon their own strengths as they focus instead on building their story and characters instead of their lack of funds. This is film-making at it's most raw, and it's most enjoyable.
Recommendation is sky high, folks. If you want to scream, laugh till you cry, and be on the edge of your seat, then seek out a copy. If you want to see what a Spielberg, Eastwood, or Scorsese would make without any funds, seek out a copy. This one, my fellow horror fanatics and movie buffs, is one that can't be missed.
-Connor Stednitz 10/10
