Pool Party Massacre

Pool Party Massacre

       When a group of young, rich, twenty-somethings get together for a pool party, they think they're in for a relaxing afternoon of fun in the sun. But when a mysterious killer starts killing them off one by one, the summer afternoon turns into a blood soaked nightmare. This is Pool Party Massacre! 

       I absolutely loved the opening scene and title sequence to this movie! The "lonely", young housewife unsuccessfully trying to get the attention of the oblivious, headphone wearing, consumed-in-his-metal-music pool guy is a funny twist on an adult film cliche and a strong set up for the rest of the film. Following this scene is a fantastic 8-bit video game style opening title sequence backed by beeping and booping Nintendo style music fused with punk/screamo speed and singing. The entire opening does exactly what a slasher film should do: warms up it's horror audience and prepares them for a fun, killer time! 

       The film suffers a bit in the middle third as it relies too much on comedic conversation between the characters. And while there are a few funny moments, the humor is never elevated beyond a chuckle and some of the scenes come across as a parody of a comedy/horror film. The characters and deliveries at times are too on the nose and a lot of the humor, (or the intent of humor), seems labored and never rises above a sketch comedy rehearsal at best. 

       The actress who seems most at ease as her character is Crystal Stoney as Britney. With her sentences sounding both like a statement and a question at the same time, Stoney's portrayal as the ditzy airhead is both funny and convincing. The on screen chemistry between Margaux Neme as Nancy and Kristin Noel McKusick is also a strong point of the film with both actresses playing well off each other. Watching their interactions are perhaps the strongest parts of the script and almost make up for the lackluster group conversations that pepper the second act. 

       The film features brutal kills with a variety of tools that produce plenty of blood (the weed whacker in the shower scene is inspired). The gory kills and the high maintenance, self centered attitudes of the characters combined with the beautiful setting of the house and relaxing backyard pool area is the perfect recipe to root for the shallow, unappreciative characters to meet a blood soaked demise. There's no new ground broken with Pool Party Massacre, as the above scenario is exactly what the film sets out to achieve, and on that level it succeeds. 

       The final act is a surprise and all around great time. It lifts the film back up to the heights promised in the beginning I wish it could have sustained better throughout its run time. It offers more visual and idea based humor that was lacking for the majority of the film. Pool Party Massacre may be an uneven ride at best, but at its best it offers up a bloody good time. You just have to be willing to sit through some missteps in humor and pacing to enjoy it. 

       Overall the kills, the summer afternoon setting, and actresses Margaux Neme and Kristin Noel McKusick make Pool Party Massacre worth a watch.

Show Yourself

Show Yourself

       After his friend Paul unexpectedly commits suicide, Travis (Ben Hethcoat) takes time off from work to scatter Paul's ashes in the woods. As Travis struggles to say goodbye to his friend, strange and unexplained occurrences cause him to start seeing things that may or may not be there, and make him question everything he thought he knew. 

       Show Yourself moves at a wonderfully deliberate pace and functions as a character study in grief and loss. The more time Travis spends in the woods talking to friends on the phone, walking along nature trails, and pouring over old videos of Paul, the more guilt he feels about his friends suicide. This guilt seems to fuel the strange occurrences that build as Travis's grief grows stronger. It's a fascinating, sometimes eerie look at how fragile the human psyche is and how powerful life can be, even after death...for better or for worse.
       Writer and director Billy Ray Brewton makes a smart decision when incorporating digital media as a means to include other characters in Travis's journey. His current boss, Daniel (Stephen Cone), friend Adam (David McElwee) and more appear on screen via FaceTime and while this seemingly makes Travis appear less alone in the isolated woods, it actually conveys a deeper feeling of isolation and loneliness once these communications end, his phone goes dark and he is once again left to the sounds of his own footsteps and thoughts. This sense of remoteness is at its peak when strange, supernatural things begin to happen and Travis is left to himself to deal with it and appears more alone than ever.
       Ben Hethcoat gives a touching and melancholic performance as Travis. Show Yourself is largely a one man show and Hethcoat successfully gives Travis the subtle characterization needed to ground the film and elicit sympathy from the viewer for his character. His soft and measured vocal delivery is matched by labored movements that seem like they were once more relaxed and effortless before the death of his friend left him burdened with grief. 

       The title, Show Yourself, takes on a bittersweet meaning as the film unfolds. As Travis watches the videos of Paul on his computer and smiles over the good times he had with his friend, more recent conversations with Paul begin to echo inside his mind. As we grow older, friends may begin to drift apart, people become consumed with their careers, and life starts to get in the way of relationships.

       It's here where Show Yourself asks both Travis and Paul to accept what happened not only to Paul, but to Travis as well and ultimately their friendship. It's a heavy message that uses supernatural elements to convey itself, but the humanity that lingers over every scene in the film is what makes Show Yourself a heartbreaking but hopeful story that's well worth the watch.