The Horror Network – Movie Review

by | Feb 23, 2016 | Movie Reviews, Reviews | 0 comments

the-horror-network-artThe Horror Network
Wild Eye Releasing
October 27, 2015
Reviewed by Jess Landry

Horror anthology films are nothing new to the genre, and over the years there have been some solid entries such as classics like Creepshow and Tales from the Darkside, and more recent ventures like Trick ‘r Treat, The ABCs of Death and VHS – overall great ways to give small-time directors a chance to shine and to give viewers a chance to discover new favourites. However, they can’t all be good (I’m looking at you, VHS 2), and The Horror Network has me on the fence.

The first short, “3 am,” is about…well…I think it’s about a haunted house. There’s no set up, no plot, no storyline. There’s a woman wandering about her house at what I’m assuming is 3 in the morning. There’s random imagery pieced together full of tired jump scares and enough loud, industrial noises to make Rob Zombie plug his ear holes. There are distorted voices over the telephone and a quick, weird Ringu-style video that pops up on the TV. And then it’s over. And I’m still scratching my head.

The second short, “Edward,” moves slowly through its plot but at least it makes sense. The scene is set between a psychiatrist and his patient – the two go back and forth until it’s slowly revealed that the patient may or may not be involved with a recent string of grisly murders. The entire short pretty much takes place in one room, which can sometimes build thick tension when done well. Not so much here. The story goes exactly where you expect it and plays out without any real twist.

“Quiet” is the third short, and quite possibly the best of the bunch, though it’s the least horror of them all. A series of unfortunate, intertwined events leads a young deaf girl to walk home alone across a desolate English countryside while being stalked by a mysterious figure in a creepy van.

The last two entries are “Merry Little Christmas” and “The Deviant One” – I’ll just say that rape scenes are not my idea of a good time nor is necrophilia. And although “Merry Little Christmas” is a little more artsy and has the most horrific imagery of the five shorts, “The Deviant One” crosses that thin line between taste and tasteless, leaving the anthology to end on a very sour note.

Bonus features on the DVD include an extended scene from “The Deviant One,” an image gallery and trailers for the film itself as well as others from Wild Eye Releasing.

With only one real winner in the bunch, it’s safe to say that The Horror Network joins the likes of VHS 2 in the stinker pile.

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