The relative age and experience of a filmmaker should have no bearing at all on how a film is received or appraised. With Hungerford however it is impossible to ignore the fact that Drew Casson, who co-wrote, and also directs and stars in the documentary-style horror, is only 19 years old. In his debut feature he has demonstrated an understanding and passion for the genre that is sadly missing from many films you will see.
Under the premise of compiling footage for a college project Cowen Rosewell (Casson) decides to record the next seven days of his life. With an amazing fluke of dramatic timing he has chosen the exact moment that a sinister alien force has chosen to invade his home town of Hungerford and he must battle to save his life and that of his friends. Casson’s skill is in that he has successfully combined a paranoia inspired B-movie with a story that contains palpable threat and fear, particularly in the final act.
Hungerford pays respectful homage to cinematic standards such as Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers and They Live, with references a-plenty to many more, but it never comes close to descending into parody. This is an exuberant, enjoyable celebration of filmmaking that demonstrates what can be achieved with single-minded enthusiasm and genuine talent. One key element in this is that the film never over extends itself. There are special effects and while they are clearly distinguishable they add to the story rather than draw you out of it.
When there is a tonal change in the final act in-camera effects come to the fore and this generates an atmosphere of unsettling creepiness as the tension felt by the characters becomes uncomfortably contagious. On the whole the performances are solid but perhaps one or two of the supporting cast come across a little awkward and brittle. The film does give the impression that a certain amount of ad-libbing is included, meaning either the actors deserve credit for their spontaneity or more plaudits for the original screenplay are warranted.
There are understandably a few rough edges in a film made for an estimated £20,000. Moments of dialogue are occasionally slightly out of context and even if ad-libbed, perhaps some further refinement would have been to the films dramatic advantage. There are also some curiously framed scenes and shots resulting in the action becoming difficult to see, and while these are perhaps devices used to add to the films natural feel they can be a little distracting.
As with any found footage style films there are the usual tropes and pitfalls that can be problematic but on the whole Casson avoids these or makes a feature of them, even saying at one point “We film everything.”
OVERALL SUMMARY
Hungerford is an interesting and rewarding film that channels classic horror heritage while encapsulating an intense fervour that is sadly missing from much of the genre. It is a film that deserves respectful credit and promises great things from all involved. If Casson can harness the energy of his debut film and develop his craft then future productions should confirm him as a new name to watch.
Screening at Shriekfest 2014 at 10.40pm on a Friday 3rd October
