The Shadow of Death (2012)

The Shadow of Death (2012)
Directed by: Gav 'Chuckie' Steel
Written by: Gav 'Chuckie' Steel
Starring: Charlie Bore, Corinna Jane, Dan Bone, Dan Carter Hope, Jane West, Sophia Disgrace

The Shadow of Death (2012)

(TBC) Running time: 81 minutes

Director: Gav ‘Chuckie’ Steel

Writer: Gav ‘Chuckie’ Steel

Starring: Dan Bone, Charlie Bore, John Brown, Sophia Disgrace, Corinna Jane, Dan Carter Hope, Jane West

Reviewed by: Matt Wavish, official HCF critic

The Shadow of Death marks the directorial debut of horror fanatic Gav ‘Chuckie’ Steel. I say fanatic because on the basis of this film, Steel adores the horror genre, and has plenty of his own ideas to shout about. For a first film, The Shadow of Death is exceptional, and any complaints can be easily washed under the carpet due to the fact Steel went a made a horror while most fans just dream of doing so. Steel’s sheer determination on display here to make a film which is not only current, but a real homage to those vile exploitation flicks of the 70’s (most notably films like I Spit on Your Grave and even The Last House on the Left to an extent) and even 80’s slashers like The Burning and Friday the 13^th. Steel knows his roots, knows what makes us horror fans tick, and The Shadow of Death is an extremely satisfying piece of horror, humour and style that can stand proud amongst such a massive genre.

The opening scene with its close up and obsessive camera and use of strong colouring even hints at a Giallo influence too, and even though this is sadly not used again, it sets the film up nicely. We soon move into the actual plot after meeting three girl friends who live together. One of them enjoys smoking weed, a bit too much, and in a moment of desperation she needs to get some. Calling her dealer, it turns out the only way they can get some is to drive up to some woods, and trek through them to find Marley. Marley is a wannabe Rastafarian, beads, beanie hat and fake accent, you will instantly like him “I may be a stoner, but I’m a businessman” he announces as the price goes up. Sadly he becomes the first victim of a vicious killer stalking the woods and it is here we learn of Steel’s terrific imagination: death by bong!! The scene is hilarious as Marley’s mouth is forced onto his bong and pushed so hard the tool pops out the back of his head, allowing him to take one last hit. The friends obviously don’t find Marley, get lost and the rest of the film is a desperate struggle for survival as the friends try to find a way out, a killer is hunting them, one of the group is getting drunk, and Super Special Officer Hot Craven is on their trail.

Steel’s use of comedy is terrific, and the standout character for me was Officer Craven. He is not a cop, and after his Police Sergeant Father died, Craven wants to carry on his old man’s work. He is a nuisance to the police (picking up police calls on his illegal radio), wears his Dad’s uniform, and generally believing he is some sort of super-cop. Craven embarks on a mission to find the lost group in hilarious fashion as he enjoys talking to himself, practising kung-fu and declaring “a little rain don’t scare Craven!!” The humour doesn’t stop there: the guy in the group has an infected penis which leads to more than one moment of laugh out loud comedy, the same guy continues to get drunk, even climbing a tree and hilariously screaming for help, and then there’s Craven answering the girls question is he is a “special officer” with the response “I am not special ladies, I’m super!” The comedy is quick, witty and well scripted, and if you like the sound of what I have described, then you are in good hands here.

The deaths are completely insane: over the top and so much fun is had watching as each death is more bonkers than the next. We see an eyeball gouged out, a cyclist has his arm chopped off and then comically realises he cannot ride his bike with one arm so throws his chopped off arm away, there’s impaling, beatings and tons of other fun stuff that will have horror fans cheering. Steel has an incredible eye for filming a death scene, and considering the lack of budget the editing and camera trickery work wonders to makes the scenes appear real, and shockingly gruesome. Steel, it would appear, can’t get enough of it. However, The Shadow of Death is not all just about comedy and violent deaths, there is much more here. There is a ton of style to enjoy here, and the faded and weak colours and at times grainy camera work make the film look like a classic Grindhouse flick at times. The scripting, even when being serious, is excellently written, and the cast all play their parts incredibly well. It is clear the director was in control and got from this film exactly what he intended. There is even time for some proper tension building as the group find a cabin in the woods and share some horror stories. One in particular shows the directors skill at building overpowering menace and, thankfully, is able to deliver a superb shock that is well timed and very effective.

Although the film does have its flaws (pacing can be a bit off, the jokes from some characters grow tiresome, at times some of the cast prove they certainly aren’t A-list stars, and there are moments when the script can feel stretched) but these flaws can be happily ignored because the film is so much fun. With superb timing and editing, great practical effects, superb comedy and a cast of likeable characters, The Shadow of Death really delivers. The impressive soundtrack also adds a great kick to the scenes, with one scene where a radio is playing too loud in a car and subtitles used for conversation showing off that the director has ideas for pretty much every scenario. Here is proof that you can make a fun, ultra cool and very impressive film on a budget. The Shadow of Death is made by horror fans, for horror fans, and it delivers and rewards in equal measure, making us proud to love such a genre.

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