Wrong Side of the Tracks

Director - Dustin Ferguson (Angry Asian Murder Hornet, Ebola Rex)

Starring - Clint Beaver (5G Zombies, A Taste of Phobia), Lia Havlena (Conjuring Curse, Nemesis 5: The New Model), and Breana Mitchell (Night of the Clown, Meathook Massacre)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Keep telling yourself - "it's only a nightmare!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     There has been several horror films in recent years that has tried to capture that Halloween essence.  Some succeed while others fail miserably.  Movies like Trick r' Treat, The Barn, 10/31, and The Witching Season do a fantastic job.  A few years ago the horror film WNUF Halloween Special was released and horror fans ate it up.  The movie was made to look like an old cable television special that had a dark twist.  This has spawned a few films attempting to capture that cable access vibe along with that Halloween spirit.  Director Dustin Ferguson put together a triple feature called WXIP - TV Channel 6 After School Triple Feature.  I wanted to check them out during my October horror binge and decided to order a copy.  The first in the set is 2017's Wrong Side of the Tracks.

     The film follows two teenagers who are going to a show in town.  They want to score some pot before the show but are unable to track some down until they meet a young man.  He tells them they have some at his house on the other side of the tracks and convinces them to follow him.  Once there he reveals that he is part of a cult who needs a virgin's blood to resurrect their master.  However, one of them is able to escape and head home.  

     I was in a bit of a slump after watching Ferguson's Angry Asian Murder Hornets but I pushed on and I'm glad I did.  I really enjoyed this film and how he tried to capture that public access style of Halloween content.  It's not on the same level as the quintessential WNUF but it was still very entertaining.  The acting in this one is solid but it's nothing memorable which is pretty genuine of the film's it's attempting to be like.  In some of the scenes the cast blends into the background but the highlight is the cheesy and campy fake television ads.  These really pulled me in and the narration was on point.  The voice acting for these really did take me back.  The story for this one is simple enough and almost plays like one of those "scared straight" television specials telling teenagers not to talk to strangers.  It works and with the film being as short as it is the story doesn't overstay it's welcome.  The commercials scattered throughout works as well as a way to keep the story interesting while catering to that nostalgic look.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  The whole "made for television" aspect is soaked through the entire production so we don't really get the blood and gore most horror films would deliver.  Overall, Wrong Side of the Tracks is a fun first time watch and something I can see myself spinning in October as I prepare for Halloween but it's nowhere near as fun as something like WNUF and The Barn.