It is difficult to think that the pandemic struck a bit more than four years ago. The end of January and beginning of February 2020 was a time when things were about to change for the foreseeable future. Many businesses still rely on techniques that were introduced in those times, so things have not gone back to “normal.” From all the filmmakers out there, because of the film Hacked which he was promoting, I became friends with Matthew Festle on Facebook during the first year of the shutdown while he was creating the found footage/pandemic inspired movie.
I would not say that found footage films are my cup of tea but I gave it a watch and was shocked at how good it was. Fast forward a few years and Matthew hits me with a review for a different film again. I probably jumped the gun since within no time a copy of the film stood on my porch… well, the po box but you get the idea. I was so eager to watch Isleen Pines, so let me take this opportunity to thank Matthew for this particular copy once again!
Spoiler Alert Though Halloween is a time of celebration and parties for most, it is not the same for everyone as a sinister creature takes its toll on everyone in its vicinity. The contributors make it all work together, telling the story of a small town headman Stephen Hastings and having narration of the inhabitants portrayed through graffiti. As expected one of the towns kids visits the party dressed as an alien but finds some strange substance that transfers itself inside him and he becomes a host of the alien parasite. He is further seen attending the party only to be confronted by the self-interested shape which sends him into a frenzy. Spoiler Alert
Once again the blu artwork on the cover of Isleen Pines is what left me completely mesmerised. It was better than expected as it centered around body composition acting that focused on characters pursuing the monster.
Not only was I not aware of the film, but that artwork also provided me with everything I needed to know before going into it. I have to say, I really enjoyed this film but it is far from being as attractive as the cover art . The acting in this film is quite good. Some characters are more developed than others but the entire cast has a good performance overall. I believe the actors all performed very well together to make the scene as enjoyable as possible.
This one has quite an interesting story especially if you enjoyed 90’s horror directed television movies such as those in the 10/31 trilogy. There is nothing better than a bunch of twenty year old getting together to drink cheap beers and wear cheap costumes. Add a nasty beast and it is just another typical slasher film set on our favorite day of the year. What I thought was impressive was how many different people there were in the story without the spinning the tale becoming too intricate. It has excellent timing, amusing dialogue, and a fantastic credit sequence.
To finish, the film does not emphasize the practical effects too much until the very climax of the film. Here, there is a body count and effects that are rather enjoyable with blood in it. They aren’t perfect by any means, but they are fit for this movie. In general, Isleen Pines is not trying to change the Halloween themed horror Sub Genre but is looking to enhance it with yet another great movie which you can enjoy every year. It does, and should be seen every year when it is time for the leaves to fall, and you are ready for the kids dressed up in costumes to come knocking at your door. Have a look at it.
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