On DVD: Slaughter Night

 

 

Written and Directed by Frank Van Geloven and Edwin Visser

Starring: Victoria Koblenko, Robert Eleveld, Martijn Oversteegen

 

Horror fans know what is happening cinematically in the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and even France and Germany. But, what is happening in horror cinema in the Netherlands? Slaughter Night, recently released by Tartan Video is one of the answers.

 

The Movie

 

Kristel (Victoria Koblenko) has been hard partying with her friends. Her father, Martin (Martijn Oversteegen) kindly decides to drive the party girl home. However, fate has other things in store for Daddy and daughter. The car is sideswiped by a truck and Dad dies right in front of Kristel.

 

Crippled by grief and shock, Kristel attempts to finalize her father’s unfinished affairs and paperwork. Kristel discovers that her dad was working on a manuscript and was very close to getting it published. The book is about Adries Martiens, a nasty man that murdered and decapitated young girls in order to perform rituals to allow him to enter the gates of hell. Martiens met his end in the murky depths of a local mine.

 

Kristel gathers her friends and convinces them that they need to tour the mine. Of course, they go willingly, or else we wouldn’t have any blood and gore, would we?

 

So, Kristel and her friends go to the mine. Of course, the elevator malfunctions and the all get trapped. In the beginning, it is sort of fun. They drink, take drugs and play a little Ouija board. But soon, Martiens makes his move. But, he doesn’t do it in a traditional way. He “possesses” Kristel’s friends, one by one, turning them pale and rabid looking and filling them with murderous intent.  Who is going to make it out alive?

 

If you are looking for a movie filled to the brim with gore and not much in the plot or character development department, Slaughter Night will make your heart go pitter pat.

It is not as gruesome as Hostel, but still will give the average gore hound something to smile about.

 

This film might have worked a bit better if it played a bit campier, like Dead Alive or Evil Dead II. Instead, the movie takes itself much too seriously and that is one of its downfalls.

 

The acting and the writing are mediocre, but horror fans and gore hounds can forgive that if the scares and blood are impressive. In that department, Slaughter Night is okay, just not something that is going to blow your mind.

 

So, if you are looking for something a bit gory and mildly scary to add to your Netflix queue, Slaughter Night will suffice. Just don’t go into the film expecting anything spectacular, and you will be fine.

 

6.5/10

 

The Video

 

Slaughter Night  is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Tartan Video has done another nice job in the transfer department. Slaughter House is a low budget film and Tartan Video has done a respectable job to make this film look as good as it can.

 

7/10

 

The Audio

 

Slaughter Night  is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 in the original Dutch language with optional English Subtitles. The dialogue is crystal clear throughout.

 

7/10

 

The Packaging and Bonus Features

 

Slaugher Night is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork appropriate for the film presented.

 

There are a few bonus features on this release. First up, is The Making of Slaughter Night. This is actually well done and covers virtually every aspect of bringing this story to the big screen.

 

A theatrical trailer and outtake reel are also offered. And, there are the expected trailers for other Tartan releases.

 

While the bonus features are not plentiful, they compliment the film offered well.

 

6.5/10

 

Overall ( Not an Average) 6.5/10

 

The Movie 6.5/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 6.5/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 6.5/10

Suzie Lackey