Modern horror films are barely worthy to be classified in horror genre. There is more to horror than shockingly disgusting images. It is a rare occurrence when a new horror film will use the most effective tool for creating terror – your mind.
Like his silly way of telling scary tales or not, Sam Raimi (the Evil Dead trilogy) is master of his craft. Although he has never said it, I believe that his most recent horror flick, Drag Me to Hell, is giant middle finger to almost every horror film made in the last seven years. The genre turned from frightening to disturbing and it all began with Saw, a film whose premise revolved entirely around a man having to saw off his own leg for survival. It all went downhill from there. Just watch the Hostel movies to see the worst examples.
Drag Me to Hell felt like it was made just to show the polar opposite of those “torture porn” movies. It was PG-13, hardly showing any blood and only giving you a few fast frames of the satanic demon causing all the ruckus. Raimi decided to leave everything up to your own mind. He removed the swearing, incessant gore, disturbing images and even the threatening devilish antagonist, proving that less is more. Just like the horror films of old, Jonathan Martin’s new horror short An Evening with My Comatose Mother grasps what works best – not just the cheap screams.
This Halloween, 20-something Megan-Foxy Dorothy Pritchard has opted to make money over celebrate in the usual costumed tradition by “babysitting” an unconscious geezer in a decked out house. Little does she know that along with the 92-year-old comatose grandma comes a slew of tortured souls.
As the night progresses, the battles that Dorothy is faced with prove most difficult, all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with evil.
Martin understands that less is more – and don’t be quick to assume that its because of budgetary restraints. Some of the eye-popping effects will leave you wondering how they were achieved on an indie budget. In fact, Comatose Mother features costly elements that are usually lacking in independent films – like a solid Danny Elfman-esque original score and outstanding “movie magic” make-up effects.
An Evening with My Comatose Mother was made for festival viewing in hopes of raising money for a feature-length adaptation. In addition to seeking financing from investors, Martin and composer Kevin G. Lee have also made the film’s original score available for download on iTunes.
If you are a fan of the classic type of horror movies that are rarely produced these days, get ready for An Evening with My Comatose Mother. We will be sure to keep you posted as opportunities to screen the film are presented in the future.
