Directed by George Bessudo. Starring Jamie Anne Allman,William Lee Scott, Kelly Hu, Steven Weber, Nick Heyman, Jack Donner. Horror/Supernatural/Occult. Synopsis: A married couple from California leave their home in the midst of heartbreak and huge debt to start a new life in Seattle. Along the way they have a car accident and are taken in for the night by a friendly, but strange couple who turn out to be their ultimate tormentors.
If you have any special appreciation for smaller budget movies, you need to check this one out.Farm House should prove definitively that a smaller budget flick can be compelling without excessive gore or over the top scenarios. Now, one thing I will say is I expect most of you will see this one listed under horror, though I did not include horror as one of the genres of this flick. In order to completely explain why I did not, I would have to spoil it for those of you who have not seen the flick, which I will not do. I think this film goes much more into suspense than horror and, though there is gore, I don't think it qualifies as a gore flick, either.
Farm House really does an excellent job of telling two parts to one story all at one time, slowly unfolding until the finale, which I predict will surprise most of you. Even if it doesn't, upon looking at the film again I think you will find it very consistent, with plenty of clues. The primary reason I think ity succeeds in this is because it seems to be taking you down one familiar path-familiar at least to fans of horror and gore, then takes you somewhere else entirely. I don't mind telling you I had to watch the flick twice to fully appreciate it. For what that is worth.
Scarlett (Jamie Anne Allman) and Chad (William Lee Scott) are a married couple who are anxious to move from California to Washington, and seemingly desire a complete break from their past life. Why do they desire such a total change? Well that question is answered throughout the film by use of flashbacks, which I have to say are used as effectively in this flick as I've ever seen them in any flick. For a direct to DVD offering, I thought it was phenomenal, though I will say you have to watch the entirety of the movie to fully appreciate what's being done.
Along the way to Washington, our couple has a single car accident and end up stranded in a desolate place with no other people or signs of civilization except for a-as you might guess-farm house not too far from where they crashed their car. The couple that lives in the house, Samial (Steven Weber) and Lilith (Kelly Hu Devil's Den). They are friendly enough, but a little strange and when circumstances dictate that Scarlett and Chad spend the night in the farm house, those of us who are experienced viewers of a certain sub genre of horror can sense where this is going.
Well, we're right...sort of. There is some of the requisite torture that we would expect from the strange couple who employ a deaf worker, Alal (Nikck Heyman), but the real question is: why? Could it be because of the very thing that Scarlett and Chad are on the run from? Well, not to be difficult, but you'll have to watch to find out.For those of you who consider the phrase "small budget horror" to be a euphemism for naked girls running through the woods or near pornagraphic gore will either be sorely disappointed or pleasantly surprised.This review will be intentionally vague about the intricacies of the plot because its hard to specific without giving up the ending, but I can tell you that the twist at the end is not merely the cherry on top for the flick, but the whole point of the flick. I think, even if you sense what is coming prior to the ending, you will have to admit to yourself that the plot is consistent and intellectually honest throughout. There are clues to what is really going on, which I think is important for any suspense movie.
The acting is very good. Both Allman and Scott are very convincing as a married couple with skeletons in the closest who nevertheless truly love each other. But, you can't have a good flick without compelling antagonists-"bad guys", if you will-and Weber and Hu really answer the bell here, with Weber being the more outwardly evil and Hu being the definition of "sexy psychopath". (Did I just coin a new phrase?) Some might consider this gore after watching it and I will admit that popping out an eyeball with a knife and torturing someone by using a cheese grader on their bare skin (while saying, "Boy, you really have to put your weight into these things") certainly qualify as gore, but I don't think Farm House qualifies as gore because the graphic gore is not at the heart of the plot, but merely an element of it. I also think these scenes were intended to have you think the flick is one thing, when its another.
One huge criticism I have of the film, still trying not to spoil it, is a particular scene near the end. Look, there are certain themes that are often dealt with in film, but almost never shown, one among them being the physical harm of children. Though brief, its shown here and I could have done without that.
On the whole, this is an original, thoughtful film that deals with some pretty big issues. I really liked it, would recomment it, and would love to know what you thought about it. I guess when a film sparks thought and discussion, its done its job, hasn't it?
If you have any special appreciation for smaller budget movies, you need to check this one out.Farm House should prove definitively that a smaller budget flick can be compelling without excessive gore or over the top scenarios. Now, one thing I will say is I expect most of you will see this one listed under horror, though I did not include horror as one of the genres of this flick. In order to completely explain why I did not, I would have to spoil it for those of you who have not seen the flick, which I will not do. I think this film goes much more into suspense than horror and, though there is gore, I don't think it qualifies as a gore flick, either.
Farm House really does an excellent job of telling two parts to one story all at one time, slowly unfolding until the finale, which I predict will surprise most of you. Even if it doesn't, upon looking at the film again I think you will find it very consistent, with plenty of clues. The primary reason I think ity succeeds in this is because it seems to be taking you down one familiar path-familiar at least to fans of horror and gore, then takes you somewhere else entirely. I don't mind telling you I had to watch the flick twice to fully appreciate it. For what that is worth.
Scarlett (Jamie Anne Allman) and Chad (William Lee Scott) are a married couple who are anxious to move from California to Washington, and seemingly desire a complete break from their past life. Why do they desire such a total change? Well that question is answered throughout the film by use of flashbacks, which I have to say are used as effectively in this flick as I've ever seen them in any flick. For a direct to DVD offering, I thought it was phenomenal, though I will say you have to watch the entirety of the movie to fully appreciate what's being done.
Along the way to Washington, our couple has a single car accident and end up stranded in a desolate place with no other people or signs of civilization except for a-as you might guess-farm house not too far from where they crashed their car. The couple that lives in the house, Samial (Steven Weber) and Lilith (Kelly Hu Devil's Den). They are friendly enough, but a little strange and when circumstances dictate that Scarlett and Chad spend the night in the farm house, those of us who are experienced viewers of a certain sub genre of horror can sense where this is going.
Well, we're right...sort of. There is some of the requisite torture that we would expect from the strange couple who employ a deaf worker, Alal (Nikck Heyman), but the real question is: why? Could it be because of the very thing that Scarlett and Chad are on the run from? Well, not to be difficult, but you'll have to watch to find out.For those of you who consider the phrase "small budget horror" to be a euphemism for naked girls running through the woods or near pornagraphic gore will either be sorely disappointed or pleasantly surprised.This review will be intentionally vague about the intricacies of the plot because its hard to specific without giving up the ending, but I can tell you that the twist at the end is not merely the cherry on top for the flick, but the whole point of the flick. I think, even if you sense what is coming prior to the ending, you will have to admit to yourself that the plot is consistent and intellectually honest throughout. There are clues to what is really going on, which I think is important for any suspense movie.
The acting is very good. Both Allman and Scott are very convincing as a married couple with skeletons in the closest who nevertheless truly love each other. But, you can't have a good flick without compelling antagonists-"bad guys", if you will-and Weber and Hu really answer the bell here, with Weber being the more outwardly evil and Hu being the definition of "sexy psychopath". (Did I just coin a new phrase?) Some might consider this gore after watching it and I will admit that popping out an eyeball with a knife and torturing someone by using a cheese grader on their bare skin (while saying, "Boy, you really have to put your weight into these things") certainly qualify as gore, but I don't think Farm House qualifies as gore because the graphic gore is not at the heart of the plot, but merely an element of it. I also think these scenes were intended to have you think the flick is one thing, when its another.
One huge criticism I have of the film, still trying not to spoil it, is a particular scene near the end. Look, there are certain themes that are often dealt with in film, but almost never shown, one among them being the physical harm of children. Though brief, its shown here and I could have done without that.
On the whole, this is an original, thoughtful film that deals with some pretty big issues. I really liked it, would recomment it, and would love to know what you thought about it. I guess when a film sparks thought and discussion, its done its job, hasn't it?
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