Apocalypse Kiss

Director - Christian Grillo (Booley, Deer Crossing)
Starring - D.C. Douglas (Sharknado 2: The Second One), Tom Detrik (Twelve Monkies), and Carmela Hayslette (The Attack of the Brain People)
Release Date - 2014
Genre - Sci-Fi
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror really is a diverse genre.  True fans of the genre are able to take a certain story or plot line and mold it to fit their particular tastes which often leads to the creation of films that transcends genres altogether.  Horror has meshed with other genres in the past creating several classic films unlike any other.  The most popular genre for horror to combine with is sci-fi.  These films tend to be more campy and futuristic in setting but still deliver the gory details that us horror fans love.  However, it is rare for three genres to combine to create something that truly is unique.  Recently, Midnight Releasing released the sci-fi mystery noir flick that seemed to hit it off among the horror crowd.  The film was unique and though it was not a straight forward horror flick it still borrowed heavily from the genre.  I was not particularly interested in this film but Midnight Releasing was kind enough to hook me up with a screener and for that I thank you!

     The film follows government agent Jerry Hipple (Detrik).  Hipple just happens to have OCD and doubles as a serial killer known as The Red Harvest Killer.  Hipple loves the attention the media is giving his moniker but when two lesbian lovers, Katia (Hayslett) and Gladys (Tammy Jean), move into the neighborhood and go on a killing spree their murders are credited to him as well.  This infuriates the obsessive compulsive killer and he tracks the two down to settle the score.  Unfortunately for them all, the world is on a crash course to be destroyed and only the president and other important figures are able to leave the planet for salvation leaving the others behind for certain doom.

     When it comes to other genres outside of horror (believe it not but others do exist) I tend to dodge certain ones just because they are not interesting to me.  Any combination of genres with mysteries still sound like a boring time.  To me a mystery flick is the non-horror equivalent of a psychological horror flick.  Any film that requires me thinking harder than I should will immediately fail (because I'm simple minded).  Lucky for me this film attempts to feel like a sci-fi murder mystery noir horror hybrid and fails at combining them all together.  The film would have went the distance if it would have just been a simple sci-fi/horror hybrid but once the other elements were combined it just felt way too busy for my tastes.  The acting in this one is amazing.  The entire cast was phenomenal and it was great seeing so many cameo appearances from multiple horror icons I grew up watching.  We get small roles from Tom Atkins (who thrilled me), Michael Berryman, and Lloyd Kaufman.  The story for this one is a melting pot of several other genre favorites all combined making one familiar but refreshing story.  The film revolving around two killers in one town has been done a few times in recent years in film and television.  Masters of Horror: Pick Me Up and Dahmer vs. Gacy are just two that immediately come to mind.  We then get the mystery angle of "who is doing the killing and why" which is seen in almost any CSI or N.C.I.S. episode and slasher flick from the 80s.  All this is taking place during an end times setting similar to numerous Sy-Fy originals.  Finally, the film lacks special effects and amazing on screen kills but did more than make up for it with amazing visual effects.  The film looks absolutely stunning and the team behind this really deserve an applause for making the film look amazing.  I tend to hate visual effects and CGI but this film knew exactly how to use it.  Overall, Apocalypse Kiss is a film that has a lot going on but ends up being a cluttered mess.  The film is visually stunning and has amazing cameos but that is about it.  I recommend checking it out but the film has absolutely no replay value.