Review: ‘Don’t Look’ is a New Slasher with Nothing New to Say

Don't Look review
Wild Eye Releasing

The landscape of horror films grows every day. With the advent of digital filmmaking, the power of the cinema has never been more available to those with a story to tell. It’s a double-edged sword, though. With so much out there, it’s possible that an incredible film may never find its audience and it has also become more likely that fans will bet on a film that fails to impress. New slasher, Don’t Look, is a film that doesn’t necessarily fail to miss the mark on being a good addition to the sub-genre, but also a film that doesn’t possess anything that is likely to give it any staying power.

Don’t Look, which was directed by lead actress Luciana Faulhaber, follows a group of friends who venture to a cabin for a weekend retreat, only to be terrorized by strange backwoods neighbors and a creepy dude in a clown baby mask who loves to kill. The set-up is typical, but viewers are sure to get a kick out of neighbors, Kelley (Jarrod Robbins) and Sherri Baby (Hailey Heisick), who do their best demented backwoods creeps routine and have a very unusual, ahem, sex scene (you may never look at pet bunnies the same ever again). As the plot unfolds we discover that the masked murderer may have some ties to a member of the group which leads to a decent enough twist in the third act.

Some of the practical FX in the film were rather well executed. One of my favorite moments in the film came in the form of a chainsaw attack that occurs next to a topless lady who’s frighteningly decorated with the blood splatter (you know, instead of running away). The film also has sufficient sleaziness. Sex scenes, salacious relationship drama, and even a brief glimpse of a nutsack (for all you nutsack enthusiasts out there) can be found here.

Despite its few strengths, Don’t Look doesn’t really set itself apart from the crowd. It has a couple blatant Texas Chain Saw Massacre rip-off moments, the mask of the killer looks awfully familiar (the killer from Hills Run Red comes to mind), and the characters are, sadly, rather uninteresting.

Don’t Look is not a bad slasher movie. It has decent FX, a helping of sexy stuff, and is competently shot and edited. The issue is that it’s not very memorable. Hardcore fans of the sub-genre may enjoy this film, but unfortunately this is one modern slasher film that is likely to fade into obscurity.

The film was released on VOD and DVD on May 14 from Wild Eye Releasing.


Related Article: ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (2003): 10 Things You May Not Know

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