The Overlook: Last Shift

(imdb.com)

It's rare to find an indie horror movie on any streaming site that is truly nightmare-inducing. Sure, modern indie hits like The Babadook are terrific, but they're well known and often mentioned. But, for small name movies with niche audiences, the fact remains that these outlier films are rarely scary enough. Never fear though, because there are still options oft overlooked and if you haven't Last Shift is definitely worth the watch.

Last Shift deserves far better than the hand it was dealt. Easily one of the best horror movies on Netflix and most definitely one of the better overall in recent years, Last Shift follows a new police officer as she watches over a recently emptied police station. As the only officer on duty, the strange occurrences that take place during the film feel especially bone chilling and with ties and inspiration drawn from cults like the Manson Family, this film offers plenty for all horror fans to enjoy.

Last Shift rests nearly all of its weight on the shoulders of its lead actress, Juliana Harkavy (The Walking Dead), who plays the titular and somewhat troubled officer of the law, Jessica Loren. Harkavy does incredibly well given the fact that she is constantly on the screen. Her ability to capture fear in her eyes and win over viewers- even those that are typically apathetic toward horror victims. Even with the assistance of a believable supporting cast, the undeniable fact is that Harkavy is the core and breath of this film.

Attempting to continue her slain father's legacy on the force, Jessica's confidence and pride often conflict with the fears before her eyes, making for an extremely solitary and terrifying time. Last Shift provides every kind of scare horror fans could hope for. From atmospheric and jump scares to terrifying moments of trickery, Last Shift was made with no higher intention. It is gritty and dark and most definitely a straight up horror film.  

Last Shift is a suspenseful and startling horror masterpiece. It is far more deserving of recognition and does what any horror movie could ever hope to do, and provides consistent scares intermingled with a fine storyline. It's one of the best films streaming on Netflix and if you haven't, you need to see it. Last Shift offers everything and more.

 

 

Review: Wolves at the Door



(imdb.com)

Cult mania has seen a bit of resurgence in recent years, the indie hit Last Shift, which drew attention when it started streaming on Netflix, Emma Cline's The Girls, and the James Wan-produced Annabelle all featured satanic cults with insidious intentions. Attempting to build on this retro, 60s-inspired subgenre is Wolves at the Door. Recounting the true story of the murders a group of friends murdered by the Manson Family during the 1969 "Summer of Love," Wolves at the Door plays relatively close to a reenactment without much of the backstory, reasoning or tact to make it anything more than exploitative.

Wolves at the Door features former Harpers Island stars Katie Cassidy as pregnant Sharon Tate and Adam Campbell as Wojciech, Elizabeth Henstridge (Agents of Shield) as Sharon's friend Abigail and Miles Fisher (Mad Men) as Jay. Each are actually pretty solid in their roles, despite the film's shortcomings and the tasteless resulting product.  Cassidy is especially effective at conveying love and loss, and as Sharon, she brings some justice to an otherwise low-brow screen.

This movie does feature some scares, even if it is suspense-free. Swept straight out of movies like The Strangers, Wolves at the Door has plenty of dark figures bouncing around the house just out of sight of the characters. There are creepy scenes with our home invaders tapping on glass and writing on walls, but these feel really misplaced and tossed in. In terms of plot, the movie feels as though it is a brutal super cut of murder rather than a holistic film. It never really comes full circle or offers anything past the death scenes and this works to the disadvantage of the horror. There's no art or camp, and definitely no substance to whatever this movie is or could have been and when compared to superior, although critically panned film like The Strangers, the scares of Wolves at the Door feel miniscule and exploitative.

There are things that could have been done to improve Wolves at the Door. A constantly tricky subject, the recounting of real life murders in film can be a steep slope that most filmmakers would avoid. But, where other films may shoot for something more in line of a documentary or a completely changed story that only draws inspiration from its source, Wolves at the Door shamelessly shoots out and showcases the real characters' deaths.

While it'll surely appeal to some, the blatant and contrived nature of Wolves at the Door feels less like a horror movie and more of an unrelenting, dramatized sequence of real life murders. Sure it may feature some of the home invasion aspects kin to movies like You're Next and The Strangers, but it doesn't offer any of the cleverness, storied background or plot. The bottom line is that Wolves at the Door feels like a cheap façade, profiting off of others' loss without regard for the real lives impacted by the losses. There's no storyline, no higher meaning or resolve, just brutality and selfishly profited death. 2 out 10.