Sunday, September 13, 2020

Redwood Massacre: Annihilation


Director - David Ryan Keith (Ghosts of Darkness, The Redwood Massacre)
Starring - Danielle Harris (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Stake Land), Damien Puckler (Grimm, The Butchers), and Gary Kasper (Supergirl, Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Evil has many faces"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Writing for Horror Society is a dream come true for a movie fan.  I've loved movies for as long as I could remember and the horror bug bit me when I was in the fourth grade.  Horror Society has opened the door to meet so many amazing filmmakers over the years.  Some of these filmmakers I'm lucky enough to call my friends.  Several years ago, 2015 to be precise, I met director David Ryan Keith.  He was kind enough to let me review his film Attack of the Herbals and The Redwood Massacre.  AotH was a funny horror treat but I was really impressed by Keith's slasher The Redwood Massacre.  Apparently, I wasn't the only one and before long he announced a sequel.  Fast forward a few years and Keith has scored horror icon Danielle Harris to star in the film and has asked me to review it.  Thanks David for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out. 
     The film follows a man obsessed with the murders and disappearances that took place around the redwoods area.  While searching the area he finds the killers burlap sack mask and uses it to convince the family of the missing campers to help him search for who is responsible.  However, they have no clue that this man is just as deranged as the killer and has already murdered several people.  They go deep into the woods looking for answers when they come across a hidden bunker housing more questions than answers.
     I really enjoyed the first Redwood Massacre film.  Keith did a fantastic job creating a modern slasher that could become a new horror franchise so it was just a matter of time before fans was given a follow up.  I was not expecting him to go the route he did and this pleasant surprise really kept me on my toes.  The acting in this is the best I've seen this year but it wasn't without it's own flaws.  The film gave us some amazing performances and unforgettable characters.  Damien Puckler, Gary Kasper, and Jon Campling are absolutely amazing in their roles.  Kasper steals every scene he is in and his character needs to be in any subsequent sequels.  With all that being said, Harris delivers a solid performance but in some of her scenes her dialogue does feel a little forced.  I'm a huge fan of Harris'.  I grew up with her appearances in the Halloween series but my first introduction to her was Eerie, Indiana.  I do enjoy her work but some of her scenes are a little bit underwhelming.  The story for this one abandons the slasher approach but still delivers the horror.  The hidden bunker, secret killer, and government cover up sounds goofy but Keith does a fantastic job mixing it together well.  It doesn't come across as something you would find on Sy-Fy or as bad as Death House.  It was well written and the scenes never become stale like most horror movies with this length.  Finally, this film is full of blood and gore.  The kills are brutal and the practical effects are top notch.  The kills may not be that original but they work for the film and will stick with you for days to come.  Overall, Redwood Massacre: Annihilation is a must watch for horror fans.  Keith is a director that always delivers and RMA is no exception.  The film holds nothing back and delivers the goods horror fans are looking for.  Check this one out if you get the chance.  

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