(2002)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-AUGUSTINE ARREDONDO CAST-MILES BEARDSLEY, OTO BREZINA, ROBERT HARWICK, CHRIS MORTIMORE and REED KENNET. SOURCE-SLOW LEARNER PRODUCTIONS DVD SCREENER
Glen’s got a big problem, one that will change his whole life. He is possessed by a demon, but you see not just by any old demon. No, his problem is much bigger then that. After having a mysterious episode in which he has a strange seizure that causes his eyes to bleed and his arm to begin start decaying. He seeks for help, as he feels there is something inside of him trying to get out. First stop, a friend of a friend who has studied the occult all his life, in their attempt to lure the demon out, they instead invoke it into a fiery madness. Glen is overtaken be this insane creature and takes the life of the invoker’s girlfriend. Second stop and probably first fatal mistake, the Catholic church. Upon trying to convince the local priest during a confession, the priest shuns his claims and turns him away.
Though, the priest contacts a strange source and informs them of Glen’s wild claim. It seems that the Catholic church is more interesting then lead to believe, putting out a hit on his life. Glen is not without his mysterious savior though, a leader of a strange occult group who’s interests are in Glen’s demonic possession. As Glen’s ordeal becomes more and more of a burden, the pressure get to him and contemplates killing himself, thus freeing this overpowering entity. Slowly the truth is unveiled and as time runs down to the final moment when the beast must be released, Glen is captured and staked to the pentagram ceremony.
There is no turning back once you have started THE HOLY TERROR trip. Director Augustine Arredondo pulls out all ammo with this shot on budget satanic horror bloodfest, $800 dollars to be exact, that is money well spent as Arredondo stretches the dollars to it's full value. Take a ride with Glen and you’ll never be the same, hear those same demonic voices inside your head. Conjuring up that classic battle between heaven and hell, good versus hell, Satan versus God, but there is a slight twist to this. A demon who once displaced Satan in his hellish throne is the center of THE HOLY TERROR’S storyline. A beast that will bring a new and dark dawn to mankind, and all those underdwellers alike. Solid in story, this wild trip has it’s acting low points, but never the less is picked up quite quickly. Accompanied by a death-like metal score, pounding at your doorstep if you look away from the screen even for just a second. Employing groups like Electric Wizard and Southern Lord among many others, you can feel the power pounding, the call of the evil spirits uniting and brewing for a war with the forces of good.
The blood is everywhere in this film as well, and we’re not talking about any old play blood either. The gore, blood and guts are so realistic, you’ll think your apart of some dooms day cult on a bloody rampage. Fists bashing through torsos, stomachs being torn up and gored upon and even that gorefest feeding Glen performs near the end of them film. This is one film that would of been a blast to have crewed on, blood bath from the depths of hell. Some great action sequences come out of this film as well. One scene in particular involving the two Catholic assassins about to pull out a hit on Glen. Stopped on a dirt side road, the action begins. The head assassin pulls out a seven edged sword and lunges at Glen only to have his arm broken into two. The awaiting assassin in the background has his leg busted. During this whole series of events the camera work is outstanding, well choreographed. Fast paced and executed to the viewer satisfaction. Also, even though most of the leading up to the ending is shot with natural lighting. The ceremony gone bad sequence also sheds some great moments, tons of action, blood and gore. You hear the body part just a braking.
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3.5 BITCH SLAPS
