Directed by David Gregory
Review based upon the US Dark Sky DVD release
David Gregory has been working forever in the horror industry, owning a two video labels and directing a multitude of impressive documentaries for Anchor Bay DVD releases. Gregory has always had a strong affiliation for 70’s and 80’s independent horror; he used to organise festivals showing shockers like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “The Last House on the Left”, and “I Spit on your Grave”. It comes as no great surprise then to learn that Gregory’s feature debut (it’s been some 15 years coming) harks back to those glory days. From a creative force who should theoretically know the genre better than most, has “Plague Town” been worth the wait?
The film opens with American tourists Jerry (David Lombard) and Annette (Lindsay Goranson) accompanied by his two daughters Molly (Josslyn DeCrosta) and Jessica (Erica Rhodes) travelling to a remote Irish location by bus to seek out their family roots. Jessica’s English boyfriend Robin (James Warke) comes along for the ride, creating tensions within the group for what was intended to be a uniting family getaway. Teenager Molly sees strange child-like figures in the woods, and becomes increasingly unnerved until they get lost and miss the last bus back to civilisation. Stranded in a strange location as night falls around them, the family are seemingly under assault from a strange group… one that appears to originate from the nearby village where time has stood still…
“Plague Town” is a very interesting and unusual movie for a variety of reasons. Released by his own Dark Sky production company, David Gregory’s film is the absolute antithesis of the glossy mainstream fare released with such regularity. Here is a dark, grainy, grubby and rough picture that’s wholly intended to look and feel that way. Most low budget horror
flicks aspire to higher production values but simply don’t have the resources to deliver, opting instead to cut back in certain key places that can be quite jarring. Gregory clearly intended “Plague Town” to be exactly as it appears; his vision being the creation of a modern day “Texas Chainsaw” movie. Therefore, what begins as something of a shock to the system (the opening actually possessing all the hallmarks of an amateur first-time effort like Peter Jackson’s “Bad Taste”) soon becomes wholly immersive as this is a fascinating experiment in audience manipulation, being genuinely filled with dread and unease. The writer and director has already shown he can do glossy and professional with his documentaries, but he’s made decisions here based around not only the kind of movie he loves but also the reactions he wants to generate.The first thirty minutes is very reminiscent of “Texas Chainsaw”, presenting characters with inner conflict (Jerry is planning to marry Annette, who isn’t the mother of his two daughters), and these dynamics are used within the narrative to enable the splintering process which separates them, ultimately leading to violence and gut-wrenching chaos. However, “Chainsaw” arguably lacked the sense of reality so embedded into “Plague Town”; Hooper’s characters were largely unsympathetic whereas Gregory’s are far more engaging. As the group splits up some nasty fates await them, and there are some quite shocking moments here (the effects work looks largely realistic, enhanced by the overall style) that are enhanced via tense editing and a noisy SFX led soundtrack.
Despite the low budget, “Plague Town” has a lot of gore and a myriad of original set pieces. It also contains probably one of the longest death scenes in recent memory, where one character is shot, stabbed in the neck and then hung in a truly unique way. Gregory even has the courage to add black comedy to the mix here by having the antagonists pelt the unfortunate soul with pinecones as a final insult! Supplementary to the violence is a familiar current theme of children as pure evil, and although flicks like “Eden Lake”, “The Children” and “Them” have tackled this in a conventional fashion, “Plague Town” adds a genetic twist which manages to give the conceit a very different spin.
Perhaps the biggest issue with this picture are the performances, which are a little shaky at points, and something a more seasoned director could’ve addressed. Ironically though, this actually adds to the 70’s feel and the viewer quickly adjusts. It’s also worth bearing in mind that Josslyn DeCrosta as Molly undoubtedly becomes more assured as the film progresses. She is certainly the most capable actress here and portrays the character with a wholly appropriate sense of strength and realism.
From a technical perspective the flick maximises the use of Irish scenery, utilising the remote locations to g
reat effect. In addition, the editing and pacing serve to wring every last drop of tension from the piece, an obvious example being the two scenes in a remote farmhouse. These combine the sense of isolation with dark visuals, inspire use of editing and shadows to give serious weight to the sting that ensues.“Plague Town” is clearly a labour of love, and has been constructed intelligently to mimic the underground horror hits of the 1970’s and 80’s by utilising modern concerns and themes. Building slowly to a reign of violence against the protagonists, Gregory’s flick is filled with interesting imagery and genuinely unnerving moments. For those who enjoy their terror raw and brutal, this entry will be something to talk about for months. Sure it’s not glossy or glamorous, but it foes exactly what it sets out to. David Gregory has more than graduated from documentaries, taking his love of the genre and painting it in almost every frame. A film that really makes the most of its production values, “Plague Town” is a twisted piece that deserves to be seen and lauded in the UK where its vision will be greatly appreciated. Very highly recommended indeed… but you might not want to see some remote Irish scenery for some time afterwards!
8.5 out of 10
Gregory proves to be a visionary with this powerful homage… don’t miss it
