Starring - Justin Cash, John Catheline (Robot Duck, Amityville Poo: Killer Poop 2), and Marvin Conner
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Hell has no cruise control"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
A couple weeks ago I was browsing through several indie horror groups on Facebook and the same hashtag on Instagram when I came across a couple posts for the new horror film Hell Van. Honestly, I skipped over it a few times because I thought it looked a lot like another horror film that I enjoy called Creep Van. Stupid title aside, I actually enjoyed the film and figured it would be a cheap knock off that one. However, after a few most posts I saw some screenshots of the film and realized that the story may be similar in some ways but it's not a rip off. Instead, it was something very different and right up my alley. I was quick to reach out to the film's Facebook page and they were kind enough to send over a review copy of the film on blu.
The film follows a Satanic firefighter that burns churches in his down time. However, after burning down a church with a handful of kids in it, he finds himself on the run from the police. He decides to shoot himself after proclaiming "hail Satan" before the police are able to capture him. He commits the heinous act in his red van and soon the van becomes a possessed vehicle for Satan. Anyone that comes in contact with the evil van finds themselves infected with evil. They either die a horrible death or something much worse...
Hell Van was just the kind of no budget indie flick that I look forward to. It has a story that you can't predict and some humor that is intentional and some not so intentional that makes it a real horror treat especially if you are looking for something different to watch late at night. The acting in this one is hit or miss. Some of the scenes are very well done and the cast is very grounded and down to Earth. However, a few scenes are a little awkward to watch with forced dialogue and emotionless expressions. It's obvious that the cast is inexperienced but it's not horrible. Honestly, fans of indie horror can appreciate the cast and their dedication to the roles. The story for this one really impressed me. Where it does feature a possessed van like Creep Van that is where the similarities end. The Satanic angle and where the story goes from there really impressed me. Hell, I hope there is more to this one than just one film because I feel like there is plenty of meat left on this bone. Finally, the film has a lot of fun make-up effects and some solid practical effects. The movie isn't as gory as I was expecting but the effects really impressed me. I would have loved some memorable deaths but I'll take what I can get. Overall, Hell Van is the kind of movie that I would highly recommend if you are looking for something new to add to a horror marathon. With Halloween quickly approaching I highly recommend checking this one out in hopes of getting you in the holiday spirit. It was a lot of fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment