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CHAIN OF SOULS
Produced by Eugene James
Directed and Edited by Steve Jarvis
Written by Dennis Devine
Directors of Photography - Craig Incardone and Dennis DevineAngela - Denise Gossett
Kyla - Stephanie Kane
Joan - Deborah Joy Vinall
Tammy - Suzanne Talhouk
Billy - Joe DeckerJust when you think you have CHAIN OF SOULS figured out, you get hit with another plot twist. Events seem to be leading in one direction then "boom", we're off following a different path, and kept guessing the entire time.
CHAIN OF SOULS is the most recent effort from Unknown Productions, an L.A.-based collection of filmmakers. COS has a good deal in common with the last Unknown release, VAMPIRE NIGHT. They both center around young, naive women who head off to L.A. search of fame and stardom through acting. Both detail the efforts of their sibling's search for answers after their sisters turn up missing. Even the baddies are similar, a cult of Satanists in COS, and .......well......a horde of Vampires in VAMPIRE NIGHT.
Both films are also overflowing with gorgeous, unknown actresses. It's been a good while since I've seen VAMPIRE NIGHT, but I don't remember any of the actresses giving into the more exploitative elements of b-cinema and removing their clothes. The same goes for COS, which is a shame, because these girls are cute. The emphasis here is more on the b-horror aspects of the story rather than allowing the girls to b-seen.
Watching COS, I was reminded of the films by John and Mike Polonia. There's that same goofy sense of humor, even when the majority of the movie is serious in tone. At times it makes for an unbalanced emotional foundation, but considering the seriousness of what the killers are doing, namely kidnaping and murder, it's comforting to be reminded that we're only watching a fictionalized movie.
With all the plot twists and red herrings in the plot, the thought sat tacked in the back of my mind the filmmaker's would pull a "ripped from the headlines" stunt with reality footage and simulate something similar to that recent mid-west news story where some morons filmed a kidnaping and intended execution of an "unknowing" victim. It was frightening enough watching that footage on television, and I don't think I could have handled something like that so soon after the fact.
CHAIN OF SOULS has its chilling moments, and provides a genuine Argento-like atmosphere of dread and fright. While we've seen the story before, it takes the premise in different directions than its predecessor VAMPIRE NIGHT, allowing viewers a chance to see the darker flipside of the same coin. I can't say I like this one more than VAMPIRE NIGHT, but COS is certainly a more frightening movie the fan indi-horror should take note of.