The Midnight Horror Show

A deceptively complex film, played as a simple story of a murderous family using their circus show as cover for killings but featuring several sub-plots with their own story arcs. The siblings squabble, the eldest acting like a truculent teenager as his sister is the favoured child, but come together when the chips are down.

The story makes excellent use of a very limited budget, although this can lead to some slightly jarring jumps in the action. A character from early on possibly uses a fake name, meaning a plot twist was not as clear as it could have been, but the end is satisfying and there is a healthy body count.

The ventriloquist did not work for me. I was uncertain whether to read it as mental illness or genuine supernatural activity, and this was the most obvious nod to earlier films. The wronged girlfriend plot tried to incorporate the ambiguity of abusive relationships but was a little too glib for me. A slight hint of incest between the two most quarrelsome siblings was kept as just that - a hint - without interfering with the plot. A pleasantly 'I wonder if that is true' routine about Hitler gave me one of my few real chuckles, although the film is not without humour.

Most of the budget seems to have gone on blood and imaginative ways to disguise the limited sets. Comparisons to Rob Zombie are inevitable, and it is to the credit of all involved that they achieved this for pocket money prices. Well worth a watch.

This movie may not have the best special effects, the biggest budget or the best acting. But overall I really enjoyed it! A very original movie that was made with love. Some low budget shots may be funny but also very creepy. It really reminded me of those classic 70s horror movies like leatherface. It may not be the best movie out there, but it's definitely an interesting experience.

In my opinion the best thing about this movie was the creepy puppet. Especially because he talked by himself. Lee bane did good as always and his performance was alright. Not sure who voiced the puppet but he was good. The rest of the characters were interesting in their own way. Especially the clown. Not much else to say about this film. Not all that scary. The acting was actually ok but overall not that good.

Good evening, everyone! I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we'll be diving into the film The Midnight Horror Show, It's also known as Theatre of Fear. I had the opportunity to watch the movie on Netflix. This movie originally premiered on September 8, 2014. The movie had a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minute. It is rated for viewers aged 15 and older. Notably, parts of the film were filmed in Wales, UK. As an individual on the autism spectrum, I've experienced first-hand the significant benefits of subtitles. They have been instrumental in improving my comprehension of dialogue, allowing me to fully engage with the film's narrative. The film was directed and written by Andrew Jones. I appreciate how several crew members were featured in the opening sequence as part of the audience for the show; personally I find it to be a delightful touch when filmmakers include such details within their movies.

Summary: The Moreau family, a group of outcasts, travels across the United Kingdom, performing an underground show that hides their sinister activities as the late-night hours transition into early morning.

Review: -I found the film's opening, introducing the show's host, initially intriguing and well-executed. However, this positive impression quickly dissipated. The narrative then shifted to two characters attending the show, one of whom volunteers and enters a box, only to vanish when it's reopened. I believe the film would have benefited from starting sooner, allowing for more character development to enhance the impact of their disappearance. I appreciate how the film delves into the intricate dynamics of family dysfunction and unwavering loyalty, alongside profound explorations of evil's essence and the compelling drive for retribution and revenge. I found the movie's pacing to be quite slow, especially during the initial half, which struggled to build excitement and capture my full attention early on; it never truly gained momentum, even in its final part. I found the film's atmosphere to be dreary and lacking in genuine tension or suspense, primarily due to its excessive obviousness and numerous vague. The attempts at creating fear often came across as more peculiar than frightening, and I was largely unimpressed by the supposedly shocking scenes, finding them neither surprising nor particularly scary. I felt the movie leaned more towards unintentional comedy than horror, yet it wasn't even effectively funny, leaving me mostly shaking my head in disbelief rather than experiencing any sense of dread. I found the acting to be surprisingly decent, with the cast making a noticeable effort to engage with the material and exhibiting more natural chemistry than anticipated. While not always seamless, and at times feeling a bit stilted as if actors were waiting for their cues, the performances were generally acceptable. A particular highlight was the compelling performance of the creepy puppet, especially its autonomous speech. I believe the film would have benefited from a more robust exploration of the two main brothers' characters. I found the dialogue to be unnatural and excessively wordy. Despite these shortcomings, I did find myself somewhat drawn into the character interactions, even with the dialogue's noticeable flaws. I found the sound design to be a significant detractor, particularly the overly loud and often misplaced music during build-ups and audience reactions, which contributed to an amateurish feel. The overall musical score felt ill-suited to the film, though the heart-beating sound effect, while a nice touch, also seemed somewhat out of place. The extended scenes featuring only music and lip-syncing, without dialogue, felt excessive and detracted from the viewing experience.

-I appreciated the film's commitment to practical effects for its gore, which provided a welcome tangibility compared to digital alternatives. However, I found that much of the on-screen violence, especially in close-ups, lacked realism; the prosthetics often looked unconvincing, with unnatural skin movement and injuries appearing too rubbery or overtly fake. The vibrant red blood, while visually impactful, frequently struck me as artificial rather than genuinely lifelike. I appreciate the dual perspectives offered by the show host and their family, as it allows for a deeper understanding of their personalities. While a gang focusing on missing persons investigations was compelling, I would have preferred the film to initiate with the team actively engaged in an investigation, rather than introducing such scenes seemingly at random later in the narrative. I found the film's cinematography to be notably constrained, with a preponderance of close-up shots and a distinct absence of wide-angle perspectives. This stylistic choice, I believe, likely served as a cost-saving strategy, minimizing the necessity for extensive location scouting and elaborate set designs. I appreciated how the film, despite its low budget, skilfully crafted a somewhat creepy atmosphere, demonstrating a colourful sense of artistry. While the visual colour palette and overall cinematography were amateurish, drearily lit, and clearly indicative of a low-budget production, they nonetheless contributed to its unique aesthetic. I found the editing to be choppy and disorienting, particularly during the horror sequences and transitions between segments. While I appreciated the unconventional editing style somewhat, interpreting it as an intentional artistic choice to enhance the film's chaotic and unsettling atmosphere, the rapid-fire cuts and disjointed narrative ultimately hindered the storytelling, even if it aimed to evoke unease.

-I found the film's conclusion to be quite satisfying, particularly because it mirrored the opening, creating a pleasing sense of narrative symmetry. I felt the ending of the film suggested potential for a sequel, and although I initially looked for one, I found no indication of a newer film. Even if a continuation were released, I doubt I would personally invest my time in watching it, unless I had absolutely nothing else to do. I found the song accompanying the ending credits to be a perfect fit for the film's conclusion. The visual presentation, featuring still images from the movie enhanced with a subtle motion effect, complemented the music beautifully and provided a reflective closing experience.

I rate each film I watch out of 10 and for this one, I give it a 4.4 Remember this was what I thought about the movie personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

Really just a poor man's 'The Devil Rejects' as the plot mimics aforementioned film,deranged murderous family are tracked down by deranged murderous avenger. This is a competent film that is let down by it's low budget origins.And as with every horror film made nowadays,everything is in place for a hoped for sequel. Though I can't see it happening in this case as the DVD has ended up in the chain of Britain's 'Poundland' discount stores.

The majority of the unknown cast do well,no Oscar winners but a level above the usual amateur hour players these films attract. The gore effects are well done and the sets are adequate. Basic story is family of misfits run a travelling circus that happens to actually kill people during the magician's act,thus setting up the vengeful pursuer of one of the victims.

The father apparently kills because he likes it and the rest of his family just help him. But they have their problems too,brother and sister sibling rivalry,the son who plays the clown longs for true love though he is disfigured,the ventriloquist brother who is in two minds with his dummy. The same as all vents in films from 'Dead of Night' to 'Magic' amongst others.

So,therefore not a bad film but I was left rather unmoved because as in the 'The Devil's Rejects' I found all the characters unpleasant and unlikeable. Bad things happen to bad people,so they say, but in this case I just didn't care one way or the other.