Seven Dorms of Death

Director - Richard Griffin (Flesh for the Inferno, Disco Exorcist)
Starring - Anna Rizzo (Accidental Incest, Future Justice), Graham King (Black Mass, Sins of the Preacher), and Evan Clinton (Brick House, World's Worst Director)
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Pray you make it to graduation day"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to horror the holy grail of horror collectibles is the lost shot on video horror films of the late 80s and early 90s.  Horror fans everywhere are always on the look out for these never released horror flicks.  In recent years there has been several horror flicks trying to capture that shot on video charm.  The most authentic looking of these films was the 2013 flick Doll Killer.  I was not a fan of the film itself but I was very impressed by the lengths this one went to look authentic.  My biggest complaint about this film was that it took itself way too seriously.  Sometime last year director Richard Griffin announced that he would be making an S.O,V. inspired film titled Seven Dorms of Death.  Just like with any film Griffin announces, I was beyond excited.  He recently sent over a link to the finished film to check out before the premier Sunday.  Thank you Richard for allowing me and Horror Society to check out yet another amazing film!

     The film follows a group of college students who are apart of a play at their college.  The last time the school showed this particular play the theater burned down killing several of the cast members.  Now they think the horrible past is behind them and gear up for the play.  Sadly, it is not and the cast members, and anyone caught snooping, is getting murdered one by one by a masked man with an ax to grind.

     Griffin is one hell of a filmmaker.  His films are always beautiful.  His cinematography is always top notch and his lighting is reminiscent of Argento himself.  His films are always beautiful, no exceptions.  He has also shown the world that he can make an films he wants.  He has made a horror comedy, an exploitation film, and even a serious horror film.  He has also given us sci-fi flicks, as well as, musical comedies.  Griffin can tackle any genre he puts his mind to so when he announced he was making an S.O,V, horror flick I knew he would knock it out of the park.  The acting in this one is fucking brilliant.  The film begins with an amazing performance from Michael Thurber as Baron von Blah.  Thurber is great in this role and really brought about some hope that Griffin will cast Thurber as a horror host in a small web-series or something where they show small, no budget trailers like they do throughout the film.  Then we get to the film which has some brilliant characters that were perfectly cast and deliver some great performances that are over the top and hilarious.  With that being said, two stand out head and shoulders over the others.  Those two are Laura Pepper and Aaron Andrade.  Pepper is one hell of an actress and pulls off the perfect journalist/reporter from the mystery noir or serial.  She is great and really breaks up the scenes she is in.  It also stands out considering how Griffin is poking fun at the classic S.O.V. flick that usually consisted of horrible acting.  That brings me to Andrade and his over ambitious cop who is more facial expressions than witty dialogue.  He was hilarious and made me want to watch an early 90s action flick.  These two really made the film for me.  The story for this one is one we have seen so many times before.  In fact, it reminded me a lot of the college slasher Murder University from Griffin.  Griffin takes the "who-done-it" angle that is typical for slashers and S.O.V. flicks and made it fun.  The film never discloses the killer and dances around who it is making it funny for the viewer to witness while turning every cliche inside out.  Finally, the film has several on screen deaths. The kills are gory but Griffin does not try to provide amazing practical effects to the viewer.  Instead, he uses common gags and poor practical effects for the kills to parody the kill scenes found in these films.  Overall, Griffin has yet another hit on his hands with Seven Dorms of Death.  The film is brilliant in every way.  It's funny, bloody, and has one hell of a cast.  This is the film Student Bodies wished it was.  Check this one out as soon as you can.