Plasterhead was one independent film that I was really looking forward to seeing ever since I saw the trailer for the film on it’s official My Space page. The press material and the trailer blew me away. I even remember dropping the whoever runs the my space page an e-mail praising the trailer and that I look forward to reviewing it. While I was waiting for the release of the film I finally got an e-mail last week offering me the screener. Of course I was excited when it hit my doorstep a few days ago. However while watching the film I soon realized the many flaws the film had.
Plasterhead is about a group of young college students heading down to Miami for spring break. while driving on an outskirt road to avoid major traffic on RT. 95. The group ends up driving though a small Virginia town. When they stop so one of the guys can take a piss in a field, he ends up finding a bag that contains not only some girls information and money, but also some things containing to a local legend. They all arguably agree to try and find the owner of the bag, when they find an address of whom they believe to be the owner. While realizing they need to stop and get gas, they end up at a local gas station where they are told by the attendant where the house is located, and the mystery and legend surrounding the town. The group agrees to go there, and that’s when the horror story begins to roll. the group soon uncovers the mystery surrounding Plasterhead, and how the townsfolk tried to cover up the past surrounding the legend.
The major problem with Plasterhead is the script. It does start off very strong but it quickly goes down hill. While this is writer/director Kevin Higgins first film, he made the mistake of every first time filmmaker when it comes to writing a script. He’s not the first to do this and certainly won’t be the last, but it’s a common problem I have mentioned plenty of times before on the site. Those of you who know what I’m referring too know that I’m talking about the way in which the story is constantly being told to us by the characters instead of letting the story tell itself. Over and over again we’re constantly reminded of what’s going on in the movie by it’s characters. We must hear the story behind Plasterhead told over and over again from character to character at least a dozen times in this film. After a while it obviously not only becomes annoying, but repetitive. I will however say that besides the continuous same story being told by the characters, that the dialogue is for the movie is pretty well written and not half bad. The character development however is nothing great, as we really don’t get to know much about the characters in the film at all.
The directing and acting go hand in hand, while I was not a big fan of writer/director Kevin Higgins script for the film, I will say that he does have an eye for the camera and a talent to direct. The shots that Higgins used to help develop this story into a movie were done very well. The film is even edited pretty well. His direction with the actors however was just alright. Sometimes with a big cast such as in this film, it’s hard for a first time director to get his actors in line. I can see that their might of been some problems on set, where everyone was having such a good time that it might of slowed the production a bit. I know from experience this happens, especially with college age actors. However one thing I give Higgins credit for was his decision in the script to separate his young actors towards the middle of the script up to the end. which in turn helped make the acting in this film a lot better.
My overall opinion of the cast in this film varies. Many performances stood out more than others. While I don’t care to examine each role, I did feel however that certain actors stood out and showed their experience over some of the less experienced actors. Probably the most notable person in the film is that of actress Raine Brown whom has been praised for her work in the genre and is quickly becoming a recognized and respected face within the industry. Raime performance was one that stood out a lot in the film, she’s an actress that always seems to give 100% in every film she does, and there is no exception with this film. It’s just too bad that she didn’t have a bigger role in this film. Actress Kathryn Merry and actor Ernest Dancy also had noteworthy performances as well. For the most part the cast was not that bad, but it seemed in some scenes they were not rehearsed as well as they should of been.
The production value of the film is alright. Being that this film is low budget I understand that the filmmakers needed to work with what they can get. However for the sake of giving the script some good old fashioned creepiness, I don’t think it was the best decision to use a home that looked like it was just built as Plasterhead’s house. I mean my house looks creepier than the house used in this film, granted that Plasterhead’s barn of torture looked pretty cool, the house in which most of the action took place looked like a brand new home with all of the furniture taken out of it. However outside of the house the rest of the locations such as the fields, and businesses which the film took place in, all worked very well for the film, and let the audience know that our characters were in fact in a small southern town.
The special effects in the film were so-so. I did like the many kills that the film had, and the effects looked believable. There is one great scene towards the beginning of the film where we see Plasterhead without his plaster mask on and the make-up effects look great. But their is one flaw in the film that was very obvious and this really took away from the realize of the movie. When Plasterhead was wearing his plaster mask in the film, it did not cover the actors whole face well, and while the character is supposed to be badly scared under the mask it’s obvious that he’s not, as we can see pasts of the actors face.
Overall, Plasterhead has a lot of flaws that go along with a freshmen effort in filmmaking. It’s always hard to pull off a feature film, especially when it’s your first time making one. I give writer/director Kevin Higgins a lot of credit for getting this film made. He has created an interesting character with Plasterhead. In time I think Higgins with make a fine director and I know we will see more of him. The guys got talent, and Plasterhead although it has many flaws is actually a lot better than most indie films out there. Pretty much in a nutshell the film does have it’s many flaws but it does have it’s good moments as well, and can be entertaining at times. I wish the story could of been written better, and the production value was as well. I’m sure fans of direct to video slasher films and the likes of independent films will see however despite it’s flaws it’s better than most direct to DVD movies that litter video store shelves.
– 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
