(2003)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-JEFF THOMAS CAST-ROBERT MILLER, DANIEL RAIN, APRIL COLE, SARAH CORBIN KEVIN KURAS, ROB YENSCH and DAN ROWE. SOURCE-RAINSTORM PICTURES SCREENER DVD
Are you in a band? Do you want to get the right sound? The right atmosphere to kick out the jams? Well, rent an ex-boarding school abandoned since the 30's. Just don’t try to strain your brain on figuring out why strange things are happening.
Why you don’t even get to play one chord. This is the exact or at least the beginning of what happens to NIGHT GALLERY, a band seeking the right sound. They rent out an old abandoned boarding school that carries the atmosphere only found in a horror movie. Did I say horror movie, thought so. Well as the band get things rolling, people begin to disappear and by nightfall, the horror settles in. Strange painting that tell fortunes, mysterious events that are truly unexplainable and shadows that bring chills to the bone. All of which are incased in this straight to video trip into pure terror.
Want your fortune told, do you want to know what to expect in the near or distant future? Well director Jeff Thomas surely would like to tell you or at least show you with his brilliant debut feature, 13 SECONDS. There is no door left unopen, no scare that was not un for told and certainly no gory detail left covered. Every corner of this haunted house like tale is packed with a terrifying force that will have you checking your drawers. 13 SECONDS is one shot on budget film that explores one human emotion after another and never letting you catch a breather without paying the price. The only grey area of this film is the acting in several spots, hell....no reason to get worried though, there is plenty of everything else going on to keep you from worrying about that small problem. This film is strictly about the material substances, the strong story, the elaborate visuals and the haunting score. All of which contribute equally to a film that is reminiscent of many classic horror films.
Still, even if much of the acting is weak, there are however likable characters displayed here. Some, carry a very intriguing background if you will, or lack off. For instance, Shapiro, the last to show up for the gig and certainly the hardest to figure out. Quite often you the viewer get this feeling that he knows more then what he is leading onto. Of course, I now know the just of all that reasoning, but must keep it mysteriously unspoiled. Many characters you tend to really develop either a hate on for or no feeling for at all. Those in that category tend to find themselves mulched up in various gory fashions. Bodies snapped in half, others hacked to pieces, while the more fortunate only suffer being hung upside down well being blood let. All in good fun I always say.
One of the strongest elements that really make 13 SECONDS work are both the visuals and the atmosphere. Together they generate this whole new surreal sub-existence within another. Starting from the opening sequence to the very end. Images of strange creatures, dreams and happening that really constrict one into thinking of JACOB’S LADDER while still digesting SEVEN. From the disjointed situations, soaked in blood oozing from quick edit to another. The viewer’s emotions begin to intensify as the story goes on. Your attention is solely on trying to figure out what the ending has in store. Sure, you may think you have a handle on what’s about to happen or what the ending is going to work out like, but just think how the actor’s playing out each role feel, confused maybe. No, they like director Jeff Thomas knows, it is going to twist your brain in every direction possibly, leaving you in a limbo that not even God will be able to bail you out. Still trying to figure out the unexplainable, well in 13 seconds you will!
For more info on 13 SECONDS visit it's website.
3.5 BITCH SLAPS
