#devilworks

Following the death of her mother, Claire (Magrath) returns to her hometown to discover it riddled with witchcraft and overshadowed by a mysterious darkness, steeped in rumors of a soul-stealing entity. As she seeks the truth behind her mother’s death, a confrontation with a coven of witches is the only way to survive.

SYNOPSIS: 100 CANDLES centers around four friends playing a game, in an old house, that requires them to tell one another horror tales by candlelight and then go off to this room and stand in front of a magical mirror and blow out their candle. Supposedly, one story for every candle. They cannot leave the game until all the candles are out; otherwise they will fall victim to a witch’s curse.

REVIEW: The good news is that there are not 100 stories, as you may have surmised. There are six tales, and the wrap around story. While the six tales each have their own list of credits it is interesting to note that they all feel as if they were produced by the same filmmaking team. They all have a similar level of production design, cinematography, and effects that sets this film at a level of a production that looks like an independent film budget as opposed to a home grown horror film.

I thought the six stories were interesting and well acted. Some had a well developed narrative while a few were just about the “gotcha” moment and the special or visual effects. I thought that “Blight” was the most ambitious of the tales and very well made. It features a solid cast, some impressive visuals. And, as a period piece, nice costumes and location. It was a bit curious that the story “Buried Alive” was in Spanish. All the other tales were in English, and even the storyteller spoke English, and no explanation as to why it was in Spanish. It was well done but didn’t offer anything in the way of surprises. “When Demons Die” was interesting in that it really isn’t a genre tale. It was a good story with nice production values and a good cast, but would have been more effective if the director could have told the story more from the child’s point of view.

The “100 Candles Game” is the weakest link. Because the characters have to go into another room, alone, where the mirror is after telling their story you expect something “scary” will transpire there. Also the mannequins covered with sheets does nothing to offer any suspense, surprise, or a red-herring in terms of what is going on. The acting is good, the production values above average, but simply serves as an excuse to unite these six other short films.

100 CANDLES is an interesting anthology film whose six tales are worth your consideration. The warp around story can simply be discarded by fast-forwarding if you choose to view on demand or DVD, which I would recommend watching that way as opposed to in a theater. The six short films are well worth the watch, and might look good on a big screen, but taken as a whole I don’t think it has the gravitas to warrant a theatrical viewing.

CAST: Magui Bravi, Clara Kovacic, James Wright, Agustin Olcese, Luz Champane, CREW: Director/Producer - Nicolas Onetti; Screenplay - Guillermo Lockhart & Mauro Coroche; Story by/Producer Michael Kraftzer; Cinematographers - Carlos Goitia & Luciano Montes de Oca; Editor - Carlos Goitia; Costume Designer - Taz Pereyra; “100 Candles Game” - Dir. Guillermo Lockhart “A Little Taste” - Dir. Victor Catala / Scr. Carlos C Tome / Cast Ayla Lopez, Zoe Arnao, Miko Jarry “When Demons Die” - Dir. & Scr. Daniel Ruebesam / Cast Jonathan Ohlrogge, Crispian Belfrage, Liis Laigna, Madis Maforg “Black Eyed Child” - Dir.& Scr. Tony Morales /Cast Puri Palacios, Gonzalo Fiorito, Diana Fernandez “The Visitant” - Dir. & Scr. Nicholas Peterson / Cast Amy Smart, Doug Jones, Ashleigh Buxton “Buried Alive” - Dir. Oliver Garland / Scr, Guillermo Lockhart, Oliver Garland, Mauro Croche / Cast Eugenia, Soledad Ramirez, Oliver Garland “Blight” - Dir. Brian Deane / Scr. Matt Roche / Cast George Blagden, Alicia Gerrard, Joe Hanley, Marie Ruane, Matthew O’Brien “Drip” - Dir. & Scr. Christopher West / Cast Wallis Barton, Kristian Chapalik, Tom Draper OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/AONbBqQULxo RELEASE DATE: In theaters, on demand, and DVD May 18th, 2021

SYNOPSIS: Four young women head out from the city to a countryside weekend retreat during the Summer solstice. On the way they pick up a hitchhiker who tells them about a local festival close to where they are staying. The girls attend the festivities and take part in the local rituals, but are unaware that they are offered up as a sacrifice to a mysterious pagan goddess. The spirit possesses the ability to sense their greatest fears and use it against them. She turns their nightmares into a horrifying reality in order to make them sacrifice themselves. As the weekend draws to close the young girls must muster their courage to face their fears if they are to survive their ordeal.

REVIEW: I enjoyed this wickedly delightful British horror film. What I found extraordinary is that any genre fan can easily perceive the filmmaker's influences, but it never overshadows the story that they are telling. They’re not trying to reinvent the genre/ They tell a solid and convincing supernatural thriller. They do an excellent job of creating effects that work within the narrative and scope of their budget. Plus they utilize visual effects to enhance the practical ones that nicely add to the tension and terror.

What makes SACRILEGE worth the watch is a solid script, skilled direction and editing, and four solid actresses. The cast does a fine job of creating intelligent and likeable characters. Given the context of their friendships the dialogue can be a bit kitschy at times, but never out of character. It feels like witty banter among friends. I enjoyed the fact that they were serious about the perils and drama. They weren’t running around aimlessly screaming as if they were auditioning to be the next “Scream Queen” of the cinema. There is some common sense to their actions that keeps the viewer immersed in the story and enjoying the ride.

The film has an excellent location. Their cottage looks more like Bruce Wayne’s second little hideaway in the country. A bit more posh than a cottage. The filmmakers do a nice job of covering the location and utilizing its assets that keeps the film moving.

SACRILEGE has a solid score that accentuates the tension, drama, and horror. They never employ it for an easy scare or to over emphasize a horrific moment. It’s subtle and often works to lull the viewer into a state of false security so the scares feel heightened.

There is one moment in the film, as the girls arrive at their destination, where a visual element feels like they are telegraphing it for use later in the film, which they do. You can’t help notice it, and they make a joking reference to it, but it is insignificant in the grand scheme of the film's enjoyment or distract the viewer from the narrative.

SACRILEGE is not a film that redefines the genre or is it a trend setter for genre films to come. It is a solid horror film that is a lot of fun, wonderfully directed, features a talent cast, and sets a shining example for American horror filmmakers as to what they could be doing instead of trying to retell the films from their youth. Filmmaker David Creed’s work here proves he has the skills to put him on my short list of genre filmmakers to keep an eye out for. SACRILEGE is well worth the view.

CAST: Tamaryn Payne, Emily Wyatt, Sian Abrahams, Naomi Willow, Emma Spurgin Hussey, Rory Wilton, & Sian Abrahams. CREW: Director/Screenplay - David Creed; Producer - Mark Kenna; Cinematographer - Sarah Smither; Score - Colin McGinness; Editor - Ross McFall; Costume Supervisor - Layan Nourouz; Production Designers - Faye Freeman & Rosa Hughes; Special Makeup Effects Supervisor - Michaela Bayley; VFX Supervisors - Gaga Nugraha & Anup Kulung Rai. OFFICIAL: www.badbloodfilms.com/sacrilege FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER:. N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/JsJR7CX2pgc RELEASE DATE: DVD and Premium TVOD day-and-date on March 16th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)