Review: THE SCAREHOUSE

It doesn’t happen too often but every once in a while my tiny Canadian city, with all it’s union members and minivans, spits out an actual form of art that sparks interest from the masses. Tell the people your movie was filmed in Windsor, Ontario and is produced by, and stars, actual Windsorites and those people will come out to support it. Chances are pretty high that they’ll get to see somebody they know on a big screen or recognize one of the scene locations and say “Hey, I’ve been there.” It’s not much, but it something.

I’ve supported these films, but never actually enjoyed any of them. Until now. THE SCAREHOUSE held it’s world premiere this past Sunday at Lakeshore Cinema, a local independent theater, and staged an event not seen too often around these parts, what with it’s red carpet and post-screening Q&A with the cast and director, Gavin Michael Booth. I’ve know Gavin for quite a few years now, actually meeting him on the set of one of his films, LEAVING TOWN, where I was volunteering my time to help him out. We’ve kept in touch and even came close to working together when he asked me to write a short segment for another one of his films that never saw the light of day. Good guy or not (he is) I went into this film as I do with any other – optimistic-yet-guarded. Some might call it positively cynical.

I was impressed form the start. I’m in the middle of a personal horror movie marathon for BingeMedia.net in which I’m attempting to watch 101 first-watch horror films in 31 days. I’ve come to realize that the first few scenes in any given horror movie set the tone for what you’re about to watch. If the look is horrible, or the sound is choppy, or the editing is too jumpy, or the acting immediately stands out, chances are, as long as the next hour-and-a-half feels, there won’t be enough time to make up for it by the end. THE SCAREHOUSE looks and sounds legit. Once you get used to the flashback scenes (which always take place on a handheld digital camera) the films flows nicely as the story unfolds. The acting from the entirely female cast (other than two really REALLY drunk dudes) is completely and utterly refreshing in a genre too often cornered by it’s own cliches. While its sorority girls concept isn’t remarkably original, the fact that ditzy, sex obsessed, modern day valley girls are replaced with strong, quick witted, leads, who happen to be women, is more than welcome.

The film is a nasty tale of revenge as two of those sorority sisters (great performances from both Sarah Booth & Kimberly-Sue Murray) are hell bent on righting some wrongs done to them by those they thought closest. The night before Halloween sets the stage for them to open a haunted house (The Scarehouse) to carry out the plan. Half the house is open to he public, the other half is for a private party, the other, unsuspecting, sorority sisters being the guests of honor. What plays out is a series of deadly interrogations as the girls show up periodically throughout the night. A lot of minor-yet-painful alterations are made to the ladies figures as the mystery starts to unravel and we’re treated to what can only be described as the Best. Pillow Fight. Ever.

As sad as it sounds, I didn’t expect this film to be as good as it was. I stand, at the moment, knee-deep in a sea of horror films as I try to make good on my promise. Zombie movies, ghost movies, more zombie movies, demon movies, and then a few dozen more zombie movies and I was just about ready for a refreshing change of pace. Who knew the answer was so close to home?

Rating –  8/10