Starring - Brandon Perras-Sanchez (The Spine of Night, Hollow Lake), Michael J. Ahern, and Matthew Pidge (Death Drop Gorgeous)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I grew up during an odd time in American history in an even odder area. I've been a lifelong Appalachian resident which has it's own folklore, religions, and superstitions. This gives those of us a unique view if you are not raised Christian. I've been an atheist my entire life but that didn't stop me from being curious about all the different religions and so on that can be found along the creeks and hollows of my state. I also grew up during the tail end of the Satanic Panic era and the Jonestown Massacre happening just a few years before I was born. When I was little I saw other cults, like the Branch Davidians, getting a lot of news coverage for their deaths and so on. I've never been a religious person but religion has always been an interest of mine along with being a major fear. I'm not bashing those that have found religion. Hell, my wife is a practicing Christian but I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of fanatics and what they would do in the name for their religions. That's why I've always had a soft spot for religious horror and movies centered around the occult. A couple months back I received the press release for Monster Makeup's Saint Drogo. I shared it on the site and they were kind enough to send over a copy of the film for review. I wasn't able to get to it right away but I added it to my list to review as soon as I could. I want to thank them for sending this one over!
The film follows a gay couple in a strained relationship as they head to P-Town during the small town's off season in search for their missing friend. The man in question is the ex of one of the men who was working there during the summer. However, both men started having horrible dreams about him and decide visit him there when they fail to contact him. They quickly befriend a local who takes them around to various spots in hopes of finding him but are unable to do so. This frustrates his ex who starts to alienate himself from his boyfriend and the local who has now turned to drugs and sex all night. This leads him further into the secrets of the small town where he finds himself drugged and at the center of a huge party the wealthy locals are throwing.
I went into Saint Drogo completely blind. The title alone made me think that the film was going to be a religious horror tale that would be heavy on Catholicism. However, I was very wrong with that assumption. The movie itself reminded me a lot of Richard Griffin's Beyond the Dunwich Horror with a lot of bearded men kissing...which is kind of funny when you think about it. Honestly, this is well made horror movie that does a wonderful job at telling a story while creating tension and atmosphere. The acting in this one is great which is very impressive when you consider how little on camera experience most of the cast has. It was awesome seeing Johnny Sederquist (Ninny Nothin). It has been a few years since I last saw them in a film and it was great seeing them here even though the role was small. We also get a small role from co-director Wayne Gonsalves who really impressed me with his role in Death Drop Gorgeous. His experience in front of the camera is very limited but he is very comfortable in his roles. His dialogue is natural and feels genuine. With that being said, Brandon Perras-Sanchez, Michael J. Ahern, and Matthew Pidge carry the film. The supporting cast is fantastic and deserve praise as well but these three make the film what it is. Their characters are very well written and they bring a lot of personality to their roles. I hate that I'm not taking the time to mention everyone in the film for their acting but I'm lazy and it is what it is. The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all and loved every minute of it. We follow a couple in a rocky relationship. One of the men is very inconsiderate and clearly still hung up on his ex while the other man is trying hard to have a social life and support him the best he can. They take a "vacation" to a coastal town in the off season just to look for said ex and meet a guy interested in them both and a strange drug. We then move into strange occurrences, a secret the town is hiding, and a gay orgy ritual ceremony before we finally meet the title character. Its a story that sounds boring as fuck on paper but is executed exceptionally well. The dialogue, characters, and story telling holds your attention through each scene and the pay off at the end is well worth it. Finally, the film starts out with an amazing scene with some great gore before making the carnage take the back seat until the last leg of the film. While the film does have a small body count, it make sure that the few deaths we do see count. They look absolutely amazing and the last death in the film is sure to leave viewers feeling squeamish. Overall, Saint Drogo is not what I expected but I fucking loved it. I hate that it took me so long to see it but now that I have I can see myself revisiting it several more times before the year is out. I highly recommend it!
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