From brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes comes this clever horror film that takes a familiar setting and twists it into the unexpected.
It is 1971, and ‘Night Owls’ is a late night show hosted by recently widowed Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian finally gets a lead role) who is desperate for a ratings boost versus The Tonight Show. Delroy’s guests for a special Halloween show include a medium, a professional skeptic, and a parapsychologist whose patient, a teenaged girl named Lilly, is the survivor of a devil worshipping cult. Lilly’s disarmingly polite demeanor belies a hidden friend, Mr. Wriggles, who is waiting to be unleashed, and when he is, things take a decided turn for the worse in ways no one is prepared for.
The narrative follows ‘newly discovered’ videotape (like The Blair Witch Project) of an infamous, ‘Night Owls’ broadcast. As it builds ominous tension and menace, there is a strong dose of the paranormal which forces the audience to question what is real or imagined. Bizarre events occur, and you get the feeling something very bad, even apocalyptic is about to happen.
The
show verges on Jerry Springer parody, and its use of videotape recalls The Ring. In fact there are bits that may recall films
such as The Exorcist, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and
even Network with a touch of David
Cronenberg. The wardrobe recreates the period as do
commercial title cards (AI generated unfortunately). The film sets up a wild climax, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing nor
adequately connect all the dots including Delroy’s ties to a secret society
and the loss of his wife. Still, it is a winner and a promising sign of things
to come from these talented brothers.
****
of ***** stars
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