Epic Pictures lives up to its name regarding the August 18, 2017 theatrical/VOD release of the tongue-in-cheek/poop in pants film "The Monster Project." This edgy live-action take on the evolution of the nearly 50 year-old "Scooby-Doo" franchise has a host/producer of low-budget online horror productions seeking to step up his game by finding real monsters to interview for the titular web series.
The following YouTube clip of the Epic trailer for "Mosnster" highlights the great mix of horror, humor. and homage in the film.
Dreamy former soap hunk Justin Bruening shines as roguish Devon, who is very effective at getting his crew (most of which with whom he has a history) to do his bidding. Declining ratings for his indie creature flicks and a mishap while filming his latest project with cameraman/bud Jamal prompts moving ahead with the next stage of these productions.
Devon begins with placing an online ad that seeks actual creatures of the night to contact him regarding appearing on film. A skinwalker, a girl possessed by a demon, and a vampire answer the call in aptly creepy manners.
Devon simultaneously recruits bitter ex-girlfriend Karen to serve as director and recovering addict/ex-con/Born Again Bryan as a boom operator. Once assembling this band, Devon brings them to the spooky run-down isolated house that he rents to interview his first trio of subjects. Scheduling this for the night of a lunar eclipse nicely coincides with "Monster" premiering a few days before a real solar eclipse.
Eerie home owner Richard and his largely comatose wheelchair-bound wife Martha contribute a great deal to the scary vibe of the dark house that is long overdue for renovations. This portion of the film further provides context for a terrific joke regarding the nature of this handheld camera project about searching for bona fide creatures of the night.
It is very appropriate that the interview with the vampire arguably is the best of the lot. Goth girl Shayla is highly entertaining and makes it incredibly clear that she likes Bryan's type.
Possessed girl Shiori does a nice job expressing her literal inner demon; it seems that her dark passenger is a vital part of her personality.
The Native American skinwalker (once referred to as an Indian werewolf) also seems adequately menacing; filming him in silhouette while he describes the initiation process that obtaining the ability to transform into animals amps up the creep factor.
"Monster" goes new old school when the interviewees revert to their primal selves and terrorize our crew, who desperately try to find a way out of the house. The very dark surroundings facilitate the sudden attacks and corresponding panic.
The final confrontation provides some of the best twists of any horror film; a grand scheme is revealed, and there will be blood.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Monster" is encouraged to email me; you alternatively can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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