MALEFIC

Produced by Carol Sessions
Written and Directed by Steve Sessions

Gage - Jeff Dylan Graham Lace - Lilith Stabs Harrah - Cynder Moon Mistress - Dawn Duvurger Burke - Lucien Eisenach

Has it really been almost 3 years since I first viewed Steve Session's MALEFIC? I seem to remember Steve sending it to me with the stipulation that I DO NOT review it. At the time I thought that was a pretty odd request so I figured I'd write one anyway to save myself some time down the road when Steve would inevitably ask me to finally write that review. I could have sworn that I put one together, but I can't find it on any of my computers.

Sucks to be me.

Or at least it would if the movie weren't any good. While it does have its shortcomings, MALEFIC is the sort of micro-budget horror that I don't mind re-watching. It's other words, it's good. It doesn't insult the audience or pretend to be anything more than what it is, an old-fashioned creature feature with a few modern twists and sensibilities.

If you've seen Steve Sessions' CREMAINS, then you know he has a flair for atmosphere. MALEFIC, Steve's direct follow-up, pushes that envelope even farther as he fuses a more complete well-rounded narrative on his moody visuals.

The story is reminiscent of Hugh Gallager's goth-laced Gore Trilogy merged with Lovecraftian overtones of other worldly creatures. Led by former Everete Hartsoe mainstay Lilith Stabs, 4 goth criminals, including Jeff Graham, Lucien Eisenach, and Cynder Moon, find themselves in the Mississippi swamplands with a plan to extort money from a wealthy businessman. It's not blackmail that the perps are into, but ransom. They're holding the remains of the businessman's recently deceased 8 month old child. No money, no remains.

From there it only gets more bizarre with everything from Ouija boards to giant monsters. Sessions takes the kitchen sink approach to horror, if one thing doesn't bother you, then hopefully the next one will.

By not adhering to any one genre, Sessions avoids the trappings that befall each one individually, including any formulaic outcomes. Blending elements of crime cinema and gothic horror with sexploitation, the movie creates its own unique world where the stranger things become the more the movie works on its surreal logic.

MALEFIC's one true failing lies in the voice acting for the narration. There's not an actor in the cast who gives a convincing narration, they all sound as if they're reading straight from the script for the first time. Lilith Stabs, who shows far more promise than her Hartsoe movies (such as DEMONATRIX) ever led anyone to believe, is probably the worst offender. The stumbling narration distracts and undermines the overall tone of the piece, especially when compared directly to the physical acting within the same scene.

MALEFIC will see it's DVD release this fall from Sub Rosa Studios. With any luck Steve will have fixed that narration problem.

Malefic
Sub Rosa