When 'The Necro Files' landed here at SGM I have to admit that I got pretty excited when the cover proclaimed such mouth watering statements as 'Really sick and twisted' (Fangoria) and 'Horror film of the year' (Miami Horror Film Festival) but would this film deliver the goods?
The film opens with great promise and all guns a blazing - a lovely curvaceous (and naked) young woman steps out of the shower only to be confronted by a masked rapist who swiftly despatches her by plunging a knife frantically into her whilst consummating his business. Two bumbling cops arrive on the scene and blow away the assailant and the case is seemingly closed...that is until some time later when a bunch of similarly hapless satanic worshippers carry out a bloody sacrifice to revive the corpse of the killer and the zombified serial killer is back in bloody action once again!
Now here's where the problems begin...as mentioned, the film opens with great promise getting anticipation levels running high - tasteless and brutal, just what the low budget exploitation fan desires. Then for some uncanny reason the film turns into a hopeful gore-comedy that whilst does have it's moments fails to deliver and to be honest is just painful at times. The plus points are few and far between with some nice fun gory sequences that are impressive considering the obvious budgetary constraints, there are some cool moments of blackly humorous combined sex-gore onslaughts and when the zombified sex killer arrives on the scene complete with a ridiculously long undead cock (well it is kinda flaccid) only the stoniest of hearts wont chuckle heartily. But there are just as many disappointing sequences that will lose most viewers interest before the end titles roll - some of the acting even defies the so bad it's good category and is downright ghastly (the two cops win hands down here, you'll winch uncomfortably watching them unconvincingly deliver their lines), the film goes off the rails completely when a demon baby is introduced to the scene (with one of the most woeful uses of a toy doll on a string that should never darken any screen).
It's a shame really as I love low budget horror and the folk behind this production show a lot of cool energy in what they're trying to do but you can't help feel they just strayed a touch and will lose some folks interest because of it. That said, I'm sure many of you out there might just find some fun from checking this one out. It didn't quite work for me but the off kilter blend of dodgy black humour, no budget gore and talentless acting might just be your thing. But I'd recommend copious amounts of alcohol and narcotics before checking it out!
The disc from Astaroth Entertainment is bare bones but well presented. The matted widescreen image is strong and clear throughout with similarly clear audio, pretty much what you would expect from a newly made production though I suppose. You're led to believe also that this region 0 NTSC disc could be a US release but the tell tale 'Midnite Movies' catalogue spine in fact gives away the fact that this is most likely an underground release from the UK (not that that's a bad thing though!) Best of luck to them and I hope they follow this up with some more support for the independent horror scene. Not my bag but perhaps yours?
Review by Alan Simpson
'The Necro Files' can be ordered direct from VideoHorror.co.uk by clicking here.
Released by Astaroth Entertainment |
Not Rated - Region 0 (NTSC) |
Ratio - Widescreen |
Audio - Dolby digital |
Extras : |
None |