Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Sept 27, 2011 19:58:17 GMT -5
Plot:Linda has a past she'd rather forget, but an online intruder decides he wants things differently and imposes a night of terror on her.
Cast:
Libby Seymour
Patrick G. Keenan
Sharrin Edwards
Michael Ruff
Will Joyner
Thomas Clark
Andy Boswell
Ryan Gary
Brett Gentile
My Thoughts:Excellent micro-budget horror/thriller!
Review:"Never Feed The Troll", is a small budgeted indie horror/thriller from Director Jet Eller. Which is in the vein of such horror/thrillers as "Dead Tone", "Black Christmas", "When A Stranger Calls", etc. In that it utilizes the old telephone harasser/stalker ploy to hook in the viewer. Only in this movies case, since it's set in modern times. It also blends some of that crank-caller element. With the modern day internet-stalker/harasser element. The picture starts off by introducing us to a woman named Linda (Seymour). Who lives in a small southern town.
She is also married to a pastor, who she also clerks for. Acting as a secretary for their church. One night, while her husband is away on business, Linda decides to try out her new $600 dollar computer system. She visits a recipe chatroom, where she links up with her best friend Gail (Edwards). Soon...Linda begins to get strange messages from a mysterious visitor in the chatroom. Those messages then turn into more aggressive Instant Messages.
And then trend into even more disturbing phone calls. While the nights many twists and turns are yet to come. One thing is for certain. Tonight, Linda will learn to NEVER...feed the Troll! "Never Feed The Troll" has a very small budget. But what's to like about the movie is how it spaces out what was spent to make the film. It manages to come off more like "Satan's Little Helper" or "Strangeland". Very small-budget films. That were shot well enough and professionally enough, to look presentable.
In other words, the small budget won't be staring you in the face when you watch this movie. As opposed to other films where you just cannot help but notice it. Because it's so obvious. While it is obvious here. It works in the films favor. And does little to nothing to hurt it. The films main characters, Gail and Linda...are full grown adults. Who manage to come off as young and charming enough to be likeable as characters.
Yet also, have a strong maturity and adult attitude, that a movie like this really needs to be successful. Had this film been casted with hipster teens, who smoke, drink, and curse a lot. My head probably would've exploded while I was watching it. Luckily, Linda and Gail were not only charming characters. But very likeable as well. The films scares comes in a very serious, and realistic bag of tricks. Where there's no fancy visuals or script tricks. We get a normal woman. Who is doing a normal thing on a Friday night. When suddenly, she comes under attack from an internet troll.
And for those of you who do not know what an Internet Troll is. It's basically a person who frequents forums or chatrooms just to stir up trouble. Start arguments, and pick fights. This troll however, seems to be very persistent. And really has it out for Linda. Targeting her like a hawk would a field moue. Things get even more intense once we learn that Linda is not just a preacher's wife. But she has a "past" of her own. A past which may or may not be egging this Troll, on. As Linda's past is slowly revealed, and unfolds more little by little...it also casts a wider net.
As to who this internet/phone stalker of hers might be. Thus deepening the films already solid and strong mystery/thriller elements. And its horror elements are still kept sharp by the persistence and borderline evil...behaviors of her internet harasser. The movie does throw in a few genre cliches though. But not too many to make itself annoying or tedious. We get the obligatory creepy police officer. Who always seems to show up in horror films where terror unfolds online or over the phone. He's there to make us think he's the killer.
Thus, being a major red herring. Along with Linda's friend Gail. Who calls continually throughout the movie. Acting as a guiding force to her friend during this ordeal. But at the same time, giving you that "sinking feeling". That she might be "the one". But this movie does an excellent job at really pushing his character onto the viewer as a real, possible suspect. The film also sprinkles a little "creepy noises outside the house"...moment or three into the mix as well.
And while it's doing all of these obligatory, yet effective things to try and creep out the viewer. It at the same time, is making the unfolding events...an interesting character study of Linda. Who begins to crack under the pressure of this "mystery stalker". And her cracking, begins to have severe consequences for her personally. And the events which might or might not, unfold as her night of terror marches on. But what impressed me most about the movie, was how it is able to do create all of this suspense, and thrills with a movie which 95% of which, is set inside the living room of a small, quaint, small town suburban house.
Even outdoing a lot of bigger-budgeted horror films, which have all of the sound, fury, and big money. But because they don't know how to create real suspense and chills, flail about aimlessly for 90 minutes or so. "Never Feed The Troll" though, knows what it is. What it wants to be. And what it wants to do. And it sets out for all of this, right at the very beginning. With everything eventually culminating into a shocking ending. That delivers not one twist, but two! And two very good ones.
That actually make the effort to shock and surprise the viewer. By avoiding stale retreads of the same old finales many other micro-budget horrors deliver at the end of their third acts. Driven by good performances, and a very smart script..."Never Feed The Troll" is a small budget flick, which manages to deliver big budget terror and entertainment!
Positives:Good performances by Seymour and Edwards. Great script which was very smart, entertaining, and thrilling. Terrific ending, and an all around solid 90 minutes spent of viewing experience. Also a good study on how powerful the internet can be in the wrong hands. But also how strong it can be when the wrong type of people come into contact with it.
Negatives:Nothing major.
Overall:Four stars out of four.