The story behind Meadowoods has been an interesting one to say the least. Promoted with a viral video on Youtube titled “Screaming Skank Gets Buried Alive,” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J2R3T2y-2I) Meadowoods promises to be an intense story that will shock you to the core. There’s even a Facebook page that’s supposed to be from one of the students. Its marketing worked as Meadowoods is getting quite the buzz amongst many horror sites. But is it any good? The story really isn’t anything new or original but it has its intense moments.
In a sleepy and uneventful small town, three college students, bored and desperate to make their mark, plot a savage and merciless murder. Electing to keep a video journal to memorialize their bizarre pact, they plot in secret, devising a homemade death chamber that will allow them to see, hear, feel, and linger over their intended victim’s torment and final moments of life. The entire film is done documentary style, with the students documenting their thoughts and actions on tape.
The film, directed by Scott Phillips and written by Anna Siri, captures the meticulous nature of how these three college students plot their murder, from its initial scene where they decide to commit this act to their thoughts on who to pick as their victim, how to kill them, and how to document the whole process. It’s interesting however it makes the film move at a slow pace. Intercut with this is an interview they did with their victim, asking her about her personal life and getting to know her fears and desires.
The poster kind of gives it away what they are going to do to her, which is terrifying in itself, however the way the three go about it nonchalantly just shows how callous and unsympathetic these three are. To their credit, the three are very good in their roles, especially Connor Thorp as Travis who I wanted to punch in the face five minutes after hearing him talk in the film. There is an overall smarminess about these three in that they want to be noticed that it makes them really hateful. Michele Roe and Ryan Downey comprise the trio but it is Thorp who is menacing in his delight of absolute torment, even when it comes to tormenting his friends.
The film has an authenticity to it that, for its budget, is well done. The documentary style makes the shaky camerawork OK (though oddly is framed better than most films of its kind) and the film’s final act really bring the psychological torment of their plan to life. Ila Schactler as Kayla gives a very brave and horrific performance here, and you really feel for her.
The biggest problem with the film is the viral promotion, with “real” videos done from the students themselves. It’s gotten the attention of some major horror publications for sure however the film winds up betraying its cause. It’s craving attention in the same way that the film’s antagonists want in plotting this horrific act but ultimately the film is too well done to commit itself to a cheap practice. It ends up ultimately betraying itself in its promotion. While it’s unsettling, it doesn’t go near the depths of depravity others have gone (and promoted in the same way), so it is disappointing to see Meadowoods use the same tactic. The film’s final moment provides the film’s ultimate betrayal of this promotion, despite its effectiveness.
Meadowoods is a well done film that psychologically, is a good exercise in the depravity of youth and the sickness in the heartless humanity of wanting to see someone die. On the other hand, it’s lowball approach to promote the film to make yourself as curious to watch these acts unfold before your eyes (because, let’s face it, we’re a primal species that are enticed by sex and violence) will disappoint you in its message because the filmmakers didn’t have to go to this approach to make their story effective.
– Alan G. Richter
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
