{"id":26813,"date":"2017-10-31T19:48:03","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T23:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=26813"},"modified":"2017-10-31T19:48:03","modified_gmt":"2017-10-31T23:48:03","slug":"hellbent-2006","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/31\/hellbent-2006\/","title":{"rendered":"Hellbent (2006)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I give<\/span> director<\/span> and writer<\/span> Paul Etheredge-Ouzts a lot<\/span> of credit<\/span> for creating<\/span> a traditional slasher film<\/span> with a lot<\/span> of the conventions<\/span> turned<\/span> around for an all gay<\/span> cast<\/span>. Every single<\/span> character<\/span> in the movie<\/span> is<\/span> gay<\/span>, right<\/span> down to the psychotic masked<\/span> killer<\/span>. Ironically, \u201cHellbent\u201d does<\/span> fall<\/span> in to the traps<\/span> of conventional<\/span> slasher films<\/span>, with people<\/span> willingly<\/span> walking in to danger, and a slasher whose origins<\/span> is<\/span> completely<\/span> unexplained. I was<\/span> disappointed in the latter, as I was<\/span> expecting<\/span> a big<\/span> twist<\/span>, or at least a link<\/span> to protagonist Eddie’s past<\/span> as an aspiring police<\/span> officer<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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That said<\/span> \u201cHellbent\u201d is<\/span> at least a fun<\/span> horror<\/span> film<\/span> filled<\/span> with some memorable performances<\/span>, entertaining<\/span> characters<\/span> and excellent mood<\/span>. Paul<\/span> Etheredge-Ouzts knows<\/span> how to direct<\/span> some suspense sequence<\/span>, and he is<\/span> very<\/span> good<\/span> at framing<\/span> his killer<\/span>, the devil<\/span> masked<\/span> nearly<\/span> nude murderer<\/span> with a very<\/span> sharp<\/span> scythe. Dylan<\/span> Fergus plays<\/span> Eddie, a police<\/span> technician reduced<\/span> to handling<\/span> files when he fails<\/span> to become<\/span> a police<\/span> officer<\/span>. Hoping<\/span> to attract<\/span> the attention<\/span> of a potential<\/span> male<\/span> suitor<\/span>, he travels<\/span> to a huge<\/span> LGBT West Hollywood Halloween party<\/span> with his three friends<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Little do<\/span> they know<\/span> that they’re being<\/span> stalked<\/span> by the devil<\/span> mask<\/span> donning<\/span> slasher who, the night<\/span> before, decapitated<\/span> a Gay couple<\/span> in the woods<\/span> near the party<\/span>. \u201cHellbent\u201d is<\/span> slim on narrative but it does<\/span> a good<\/span> job<\/span> in depicting<\/span> these men<\/span> in their element<\/span>, as they’re oblivious<\/span> to the slasher while trying<\/span> to enjoy<\/span> being<\/span> themselves for just<\/span> one night<\/span>. Sadly<\/span>, just<\/span> about<\/span> every character<\/span> in the movie<\/span> are<\/span> engaging<\/span> save for character<\/span> Eddie, of which the movie<\/span> revolves<\/span> around. Writer<\/span> and director<\/span> Paul Etheredge-Ouzts follows<\/span> the four characters<\/span> as they venture<\/span> back<\/span> and forth in the massive<\/span> party<\/span>.<\/p>\n

It becomes<\/span> pretty<\/span> sad<\/span> when we watch<\/span> the killer<\/span> slowly<\/span> pick<\/span> them off in about as vicious<\/span> and painful<\/span> manner<\/span> as possible<\/span>. Chalk it up to budget or location<\/span> restrictions<\/span>, but \u201cHellbent\u201d inevitably<\/span> walks in to some glaring plot<\/span> holes<\/span>, including<\/span> a murder<\/span> and beheading<\/span> that occurs in the middle<\/span> of a dance<\/span> floor<\/span>. As well<\/span> as director<\/span> Etheredge-Ouzts frames<\/span> and films<\/span> the scene<\/span>, it’s insanely<\/span> far fetched<\/span> that no one<\/span> even<\/span> noticed<\/span> one of the partiers fall<\/span> to the ground<\/span> sans a head<\/span>. \u201cHellbent\u201d is<\/span> not<\/span> without its flaws<\/span>, but it still<\/span> comes<\/span> out ahead<\/span> in the end<\/span> as a fun<\/span> Halloween treat<\/span> with great<\/span> direction<\/span>, and a weird<\/span> final<\/span> scene<\/span> I wish<\/span> would have<\/span> led<\/span> in to a sequel<\/span>.<\/p>\n