Somewhat copying on everything that was successful in the horror environment but using a new approach, Hell Asylum dissociates itself from the usual low-budget movie in its own way. Between the sometimes-poor grain of film, the fluctuating sound effects and the unprepared or inexperienced actors we notice a particular attention to detail.
Those seeking a movie to reflect on will be disappointed. It is not a movie that exploits the haunted house, its characters or its ghosts as specific entities. The clichés are very obvious and it is a problem. Furthermore, the actors, the women in particular, did not seem have the chance or the motivation to study their characters in depth or to practice their scenes. They could practically all be described in only two words each.
The murders are rough and violent but surprisingly well thought out. The blood is sometimes pink but, by now, we should be used to this effect because so many movie have experience such technical problems. After all, even if it is a mistake, blood in a color other than red sometimes avoids censorship, however incoherent may it seem.
The succession of scenes is interesting. It is not deprived of errors but a certain effect of static transition (similar to the static effect on television) is overused, hence dissimulating what could have looked odd on screen. The murders, for example, are audacious while being too advanced for the budget. In this situation, the effect used blinds the spectator and helps an incoherent scene pass unnoticed. In addition, the scene assembly is more artistic than what we would usually expect from this style of movie.
The viewer should be surprised on a few occasions. It is a release signed Tempe Entertainment and Full Moon, a new alliance in the world of independent cinema. Danny Draven’s team can be proud of its product.
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