You know, I appreciate a good attempt at making any independent film. It’s hard when you don’t have a big budget to make a halfway decent film. And this is the fact with “Devon’s Ghost: The Legend of Bloody Boy”. Now I can’t say that this film was good, because I just know that most critics are probably going to be hard on this film, but what I respect about the movie is that it was not a typical horror film. it had some moments that were pretty upsetting.
Where to start; I really don’t know the story was a bit crazy, and I can’t say that the script was great, but it was not really bad or terrible for that matter. It was a bit all over the place, and of course the translation form script to motion picture was not the best, but there were some scenes that I actually though were well written and there were some scenes that I though were just plan bad. The production value was not really that great and I think that’s what held back the film from being something good, With a low budget, trying to make a ghost movie is a hard thing. First off we really don’t know if Devon’s an actual ghost or if he’s just some crazy human being, it’s really not well defined within the film. We have scenes where he just disappears into thin air and other scenes where he’s in a huge martial arts fight with one of the characters. But there was one scene that just made the film seem unreal; bare with me here for a second while I explain. Symphony, The lead female, played by former power ranger Karan Ashley, is running and gets into a parked truck. Devon chases her into the truck and she manages to get him off of her and she locks herself in the truck and tries to start it. Meanwhile outside the truck Devon is walking around with a baseball bat in his hands, thinking of some way to get into the truck. HELLO you have a baseball bat! Break the windows, but instead he goes walks in front of the truck which Symphony starts and runs him over. Sorry but that was what I would call a very unrealistic scene. But hey, Like I said it’s a low budget film and smashing car windows cost money, but the scene could of been written better with more thought to make it seem more realistic.
The acting, Now I kind of feel bad saying this, cause it seemed that everyone was trying their best here, but the majority of the cast did not act well at all. Now I know you can never really just lay the blame on the actors, there is a lot involved the directing and the script are all factors, but when other actors are acting a lot better than others, and it’s very noticeable, then you know you got problems. But hey it seemed this cast had fun making the film, and well in horror films, lets face it most of the time the acting is as bad as my spelling sometimes. It happens. However on a higher note, The guy who played Devon was great, I think he was perfectly cast for that part.
Effects wise, this film did pretty good, I was actually impressed. The less is more factor was used a lot, but it actually worked very well with this film, very impressive. There was not much gore, just mainly a lot of blood, but the film held up well with the makeup effects.
Overall, “Devon’s Ghost” was a good attempt at making a horror film with a low budget, especially a film involving a ghost. It’s not by any means a great film it has a lot of flaws but has some good moments as well. Basically what I enjoyed about this film is that it was not boring, it flowed decently and kept my attention. I think most people will see the flaws in the film, but respect the filmmakers at their attempt at bringing the movie to life. I for one praise the film for it’s efforts, and for the fact that it looked like everyone had a good time making it. If you feel like renting this film I say give it a go and rent it, it’s nothing great, but it’s a film that I’m sure you will respect despite some of the flaws that come with it.
-Horror Bob
- 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
