Werewolves! With a few honourable exceptions, the humble lycanthrope is a figure less seen on the screen than some of his more famous counterparts. Last year’s arresting WolfCop and the wonderful Late Phases did their part, but we’re still a long way away from the redemption of the werewolf.
Enter Justin Price’s Dark Moon Rising, a horror film which skews (much) younger than Late Phases and towards the more conventional than Wolfcop, but packs in plenty of werewolf action nevertheless. “At least grab a titty or something,” pleads one of the idiot young characters, setting the tone early for what is essentially a much shorter, more tolerable Hemlock Grove. With its dyed-black fingerless-glove-wearing (bright pink lemonade drinking) emo hero and mysterious curly smouldering heroine, it’s only a little gore that separates it from being at the same end of the horror spectrum as Twilight.
Which isn’t to say that there’s not some enjoyment to be had with it. In spite of its obvious lack of funds, the film looks great for what it is, splashing about a comic-book esque colour palette and making the most of its cartoon-like CGI. The special effects rarely convince, but always entertain. The whole film looks like the front cover of a no-name YA novel – probably also about werewolves.
Brightening up matters even more is the presence of Eric Roberts, his bad haircut and alcoholism channelling The Hunger Games’ Haymitch, only with a much worse script. No doubt his name will be plastered all over the DVD case, but he’s in it for all of five minutes. If you really must get your Straight-to-DVD Eric Roberts fix, you can do far worse than Dark Moon Rising.
Too gory for kids but too silly for adults, this purple fever dream will likely struggle to find its audience. With its batty visuals, Eurotrash dance music and dippy spirituality, Dark Moon Rising is one of the more interesting misfires of recent years. It’s barking mad.
Special Features: TBC
DARK MOON RISING / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENLPAY: JUSTIN PRICE / STARRING: STASI ESPER, CAMERON WHITE, KHU, JUSTIN PRICE / RELEASE DATE: TBC
