Hell Fest is a slasher-style horror film released on the Netflix streaming service. Directed by American filmmaker Gregory Plotkin, the film follows a group of teenagers who decide to spend a night at a Halloween festival in an amusement park. However, the night turns dangerous when an unknown masked killer hunts them down one by one.
The film is the second one directed by Plotkin after working on Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension in 2015. Hell Fest is a movie that features brutal and bloody murder scenes, which is typical of slasher films. But does the movie live up to the expectations of popular slasher movies like Scream, Child’s Play, and Nightmare on Elm Street in terms of excitement? Let’s take a closer look at the review of the movie below.
Synopsis and Release Year
Hell Fest was released in 2018, falls into the Adventure, Crime, Friendship, Gore, Horror, Mystery, Slasher, Teen, and Thriller genres. Gregory Plotkin directed it, and the cast includes Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Christian James, and Matt Mercurio.
The Plot
The movie starts with a teenage girl running in fear at Hell Fest. It’s a Halloween festival, and she is chased by a masked man who wants to kill her. The girl unable to escape eventually dies in horrendous fashion at the hands of the masked man.
The killer is known as “The Other,” a serial killer who preys on victims during Halloween celebrations. Natalie and her friends, Brooke, Taylor, and Gavin, go to the festival to celebrate Halloween. They decide to enter a haunted house in the amusement park.
Inside the haunted house, Natalie, Brooke, and Taylor get a glimpse of a frightened woman being chased by The Other. When the girl is murdered in front of them, Natalie feels that there is something wrong with the event, but she does not pay it much attention and leaves The Other behind.
When they exit the haunted house, The Other starts to stalk them. However, Taylor does not consider it a serious threat, and only sees it as a form of entertainment for the Halloween festival. They start enjoying themselves and trying out all the rides at the festival.
Meanwhile, Natalie and Gavin get to know each other and decide to take a picture inside a photo booth. The Other takes a selfie with them unexpectedly. Brooke, who sees the picture, chases The Other but fails to catch him as he disappears quickly.
Gavin decides not to join the group for the next ride because he wants to steal a doll to give to Natalie. While in the warehouse, he encounters The Other, who brutally kills him with a hammer. After leaving the place, The Other immediately returns to Natalie and her friends.
The Other successfully traps Natalie in the bathroom, but she manages to escape from his attack. Natalie and Brooke realize that The Other is, in fact, a real serial killer. However, no one believes them, and they must try their best to save themselves.
Review
Before directing his second film, Gregory Plotkin worked as an editor for several horror, thriller, drama, and slasher films, including Happy Death Day (2017). Using his broad experience, he builds Hell Fest from a mystery perspective based on his imagination.
The screenplay for Hell Fest was written by Seth M. Sherwood, Blair Butler, and Akela Cooper, who crafted an uncomplex and predictable storyline that is still enjoyable. Plotkin’s direction is relatively simple yet manages to produce a tense cinematographic sequence.
Despite having a low production budget of around $5 million, Hell Fest is successful in depicting the amusement park as a genuinely creepy place. The setting is highly effective in providing an atmosphere of fear.
The premise of the film is cliched and feels similar to several other similar movies. However, the concept remains intriguing and easy to appreciate. In this movie, The Other becomes a memorable villain thanks to Tony Todd’s excellent performance.
Conclusion
In summary, Hell Fest is a slasher movie well worth watching for horror fans. The movie’s plot may be familiar, but it still manages to entertain the audience thanks to excellent performances and effective cinematography. Hell Fest also has an impressive and highly entertaining depiction of a Halloween festival that is both creepy and exciting.
