Elliott Léon’s film is an odd one. Filmed as though it was made at the dawn of cinema, it’s a bold and ambitious venture that doesn’t fully succeed. That said, like Ryland Brickson Cole Tews’ Lake Michigan Monster, it’s rewarding enough for those who enjoy low-budget indie cinema.
A group of four medical students are chosen to spend some time at the private island of Dr Reed Wakefield (Gordon Lawson). What they think will be a relaxing weekend turns into something much more sinister when Wakefield reveals how he has been experimenting and they are to be guinea pigs.
There’s an am-dram feel to the acting, which fortunately matches the aged aesthetic. While it certainly won’t be for everyone, there’s a camp enjoyment to be gained for those in the right frame of mind. There are some nightmarish visuals on offer, some surprisingly gory. Fortunately, the oversaturated look covers a multitude of shortcomings in the production. It also adds a surrealist aura that adds to its charm. The film is clearly a labour of love, however, and Léon should be applauded for getting the film made in the first place, let alone premiering at FrightFest.
THE FREAKS OF FANCY screened at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest.
