In 2013, Hi-8 (Horror Independent 8) saw the collaboration of underground horror legends Todd Sheets, Tim Ritter, Brad Sykes, Donald Farmer, and more on an anthology film with eight segments in the spirit of the shot-on-video and low budget films for which the directors were known. Some of the segments were stronger than others, but as a whole it was a fantastically fun film that felt genuine to the films which it was paying tribute. Now it’s 2019, and five directors, some who were featured in Hi-8 and some new minds, are back with Hi-Death. The new film is a nice extension of the first and serves as another worthwhile experience for fans of SOV and regional horror films.
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The wraparound segment, directed by Brad Sykes (Death Factory), follows a pair of pretty girls as they walk around the city attending different horror films. The first segment, “Death Has a Conscience,” directed by Anthony Catanese (Sodomaniac), concerns a junkie girl’s encounter with death itself. The second segment, “Death Dealer,” is a Tim Ritter (Killing Spree) directed sleazy tale of a criminal whose obsession with collecting murder memorabilia catches up with him in a gruesome way. Segment three, “Night Drop,” is a shorter story directed by Amanda Payton (Sleepless Nights) about an after-hours employee at a video rental store who discovers a mysterious DVD return. The fourth story, Brad Sykes’ “Cold Read,” is a tense thriller about an actress in a bizarre audition. And the final segment, my personal favorite, “The Muse,” was directed by Todd Sheets (Violent New Breed) and is about an artist who is in league with an entity who inspires his art through evil acts.
The segments are all made on a shoestring budget, which is certainly not a detractor. In essence, that is the point of these films. These are short films made with the homegrown DIY mentality that made the films of Ritter, Sheets, and company so special. Because of that, I do believe that both Hi-8 and Hi-Death are best viewed with an understanding of the types of films that they’re paying tribute to. If you’re thinking of diving into these, I’d recommend checking out something like Tim Ritter’s Truth of Dare? A Critical Madness or Todd Sheets’ Zombie Bloodbath first for a little perspective. Frankly, you should watch these regardless of your interest in Hi-Death, because they’re a blast.
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Hi-Death has its flaws. Some of the segments run a bit too long, the acting is occasionally shaky, the stories aren’t destined to leave you in a state of awe, but what it lacks in these “technical” qualities, it more than makes up for in heart. Fans of shot-on-video films, movies released by Brain Damage Films, gore, sleaze, and any form ultra low budget trash horror are bound to have a good time with Hi-Death.
Wild Eye Releasing will release Nightfall Pictures’ Hi-Death on disc, digital and limited edition VHS on June 10th.
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