Hotel of the Damned (2016)
Matt Boiselle
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Starring Louis Mandylor, Peter Dobson, Bogdan Marhodin
Directed by Bobby Barbacioru
Hotels: if it ain’t the astronomical room rates that are killing you, it’s the cost of what’s in the minibar, or the crappy room service…or the vengeful sub-humanoid killer cannibals waiting to chew on your face – and there is the distinct possibility that the last part COULD be left off of the booking site.
From director Bobby Barbacioru comes Hotel Of The Damned, a film about the hazards of not using rewards points when choosing overnight lodging. In all semi-seriousness, the film focuses on a skewed set of “family” values as cannibalism takes center stage in an effort to deliver the chills. The premise sets up like this: A young girl named Maria (Manuela Harabor) goes on the lam with her degenerate boyfriend (Marhodin), complete with angry Daddy (Mandylor) and his, ahem “business associate” in tow, ready at a moments notice to pounce and bring his daughter back home. Non-consequential spoiler cast to the wayside: they’re caught up to, and upon their return, a horrific car accident causes all 4 of the occupants to get tossed from the car like rag dolls and BOOM – stranded, injured, and wouldn’t you know it? No cell-phone reception – isn’t that always the way? So, the option exists to hole up in a deserted hotel located DEEP in the heart of the woods – should be enough safety and sanity included to get our foursome through the night until dawn arrives and they can look for some real help…well, the occupants taking up residency inside this ramshackle dwelling have other ideas.
So we have the framing of a family that has come across some hard times in the past, which is now reflective here in the present, and alongside the threat of some seriously nasty backwoods flesh-munchers prowling the hallways of this dilapidated hotel, I’d say the odds of a peaceful night’s rest are slim to none. There are more than a few instances of in-your-face brutish violence that will satisfy those looking for a little bad-assery to their horror fix, and the inclusion of some mild comedic elements give this a little spice. Mandylor plays a hard-edged role, and it’s well-represented in the delivery – hell, everyone does a fairly decent job of holding their own, and I was more than surprised at the fun factor that this movie rolled out with it. Not to say that there aren’t a few “gimme a break” moments strewn about in this presentation, but that’s normally par for the course when a movie like this is put together, but overall I believe that this flick will hit it off with its share of fans, especially those who like their violence front and center, a la the Wrong Turn franchise. Be sure to give this at least a one-timer when it becomes available, but please don’t eat the mints left on the pillows at this place.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
