Deadwood Park (2007)
Starring William Clifton, Lindsey Luscri, Bryan Lane, Jason Allen Wolfe & Ramona Midgett
Written by Jessie Seitz & Eric Stanze
Directed by Eric Stanze
In the realm of low-budget horror, it is very rare to find such good content and story that you begin to appreciate the filmmakers who are able to pull off unbelievable feats. "Deadwood Park" is one of those films that is part brilliance, part absurd, part bad, but overall damn fucking good to watch. Eric Stanze, director, weaves his way through the life of Jake Richardson, who has returned home to his Mayberry-type hometown that carries with it a dark secret. Years ago, a maniac went on a thirty-five year stint, brutally murdering children of the town, and ending his reign of death with Jake's twin brother, Francis, in 1979. Flash to the present, Jake returns to find the townspeople still trying to get over their town's history.
With amazing exterior shots of a town gone under, starting with Jake's former home (that is barely standing on its foundation), the story swings us to an amusement park that used to be the focal point of the town in years past. However, due to the murder spree, the park was closed down, never to be used again - the park is called Dogwood Park, yet is now deemed "Deadwood Park" after its storied past.
As Jake starts to setup shop, the eerie begins to take place; strange noises from the house, children heard laughing, and then children being seen who of course aren't there. Jake then starts to investigate the murders of the past. Sheriff Cooper, Bryan Lane, appears to tell Jake that his nosing around won't be appreciated and to leave the town legend alone - foreshadowing to the sheriff knowing more than he lets on? Maybe.
The strange occurrences happening to Jake continue to the point where he now must find out exactly what happened all those years ago. He is joined by Olivia Cooper, the sheriffs daughter (Lindsey Luscri), who is very interested in the idea of the town legend and jumps at the chance to help Jake investigate it based solely on the idea that it is a rush of excitement for her. From there, several flashbacks tell a backstory that leads us to the climactic finish of really finding out who the killer was, a twist that is partly surprising and partly, "really?"
I don't like giving too much away in any review of any kind so I will not start here. Add parts old-town legend, ghostly children, a murder mystery, telling back-story, and amazing direction and you get the great parts of the film. Now subtract the dialogue, some of the acting and an odd World War II sequence that didn't necessarily need to be in the film, and it sums up how really low-budget the film was.
However, it is very hard to explain the things that really kicked ass about the film without giving too much away. The flashback sequences throughout are shot with a luscious and sharp black & white that really stands out beautifully. The effects of some of the ghostly children were almost too cheesy when they began to happen, yet right when the effects begin to appear and disappear they are incredible, for how they were filmed. Also, seeing the amusement park go from being broken down, with wood pieces rotted out and hanging by a thread, to the park being alive and well and up and running made me wonder, keeping in mind it is low-budget, "how the fuck did they do that!?"
Previously mentioned was a World War II sequence that did not need to be in the film. Now, I must say that there are several flashbacks of World War II sequences in the movie that are a necessity to the backstory of the characters involved, but one in particular could have been cut-out and kept the film intact. The scenes of the WWII sequences were filmed were almost as good as "Saving Private Ryan," "Flags of Our Fathers," and "Miracle at St. Anna." Keeping with the crisp black & white, quick edits, very realistic bombings and gun firing, and the intensity the actors portrayed as being under attack, has to be inspiring for anyone who is aspiring to being a filmmaker.
Kudos for Stanze and company for making the low-budget horror genre something no one should pass up.
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vincent