When it comes to indie horror movies, each one has a different draw to it. Some are cheesy and over-top while others are more suspenseful. "Kiss The Abyss" is a suspense horror by Risen Pictures. This film is a tragic tale leading to a dubious ending, written and directed by Ken Winkler, starring an emotional cast of players, and featuring impressive make-up F/X that draw you in till the very end.
We start out with a young married couple, Leslie and Mark. They struggle with money and do not live in a very safe neighborhood which results in Leslie's unexpected death. A mysterious man in the middle of the desert is able to bring her back to life but with dire consequences. She begins to thirst for blood and transforms into something, but it's not what you think.
Also co-written by Eric Rucker, "Kiss The Abyss" is the first major effort from both men and it's a decent one, even earning high praise at the 2010 FreakShow Film Fest (which is where we first saw this film) in Orlando, Florida. Together, they create a mixed-bag of emotional characters. While some characters were excellent, their development was not. They receive little explanation as to their relationships to each other, and it takes some time for us to learn names which is exacerbated by the rather choppy opening. The film opens in the middle of the time-line and flashes back frequently to before and to the point of Leslie's death but never explains what happened during the three day gap. The 2nd act is when the plot really gets going.
Leslie and Mark were played by Nicole Moore and Scott W. Wilson respectively. Their performance was very heartfelt and tender. They were clearly the best choice for this picture. While Moore and Wilson were the heart of the film, Douglas Bennett stole the show as the back woods necromancer, Gus. Bennett's scenes were often humorous in creepy way. His performance did not over blow the character's "redneck" nature and he seemed to be more intelligent than your average horror movie hillbilly. James Mathers plays Leslie's corrupt rich father, Harold. Mathers tended to overact his part, seemed devoid of any emotion, and overall was just not believable.
Finally, we come to the make-up. The blood and the injury effects were professional grade which has become standard for indie horror movies these days. What really makes the film stand out is the effects of Leslie's transformation, progressing with each new scene. This really makes the film more suspenseful as you wonder how she will change next and what she will become. This theme is reminiscent of "The Fly" (1986) as the audience watched Brundle's transformation.
This film has a hidden theme which reiterates the age old question "what makes a monster?" Was it the literal and physical monster of what Leslie was becoming or the metaphorical monster of Gus and Leslie's selfish father? It may be a story told before, but this film tells it in a unique way.
Overall, not too bad of a film, and an excellent first effort. If you like "Cat People" or "The Fly", you'll love "Kiss The Abyss". Definitely an indie gem well-worth checking out!
Reviewed by: Dave Mongeni www.stiffmag.com
We start out with a young married couple, Leslie and Mark. They struggle with money and do not live in a very safe neighborhood which results in Leslie's unexpected death. A mysterious man in the middle of the desert is able to bring her back to life but with dire consequences. She begins to thirst for blood and transforms into something, but it's not what you think.
Also co-written by Eric Rucker, "Kiss The Abyss" is the first major effort from both men and it's a decent one, even earning high praise at the 2010 FreakShow Film Fest (which is where we first saw this film) in Orlando, Florida. Together, they create a mixed-bag of emotional characters. While some characters were excellent, their development was not. They receive little explanation as to their relationships to each other, and it takes some time for us to learn names which is exacerbated by the rather choppy opening. The film opens in the middle of the time-line and flashes back frequently to before and to the point of Leslie's death but never explains what happened during the three day gap. The 2nd act is when the plot really gets going.
Leslie and Mark were played by Nicole Moore and Scott W. Wilson respectively. Their performance was very heartfelt and tender. They were clearly the best choice for this picture. While Moore and Wilson were the heart of the film, Douglas Bennett stole the show as the back woods necromancer, Gus. Bennett's scenes were often humorous in creepy way. His performance did not over blow the character's "redneck" nature and he seemed to be more intelligent than your average horror movie hillbilly. James Mathers plays Leslie's corrupt rich father, Harold. Mathers tended to overact his part, seemed devoid of any emotion, and overall was just not believable.
Finally, we come to the make-up. The blood and the injury effects were professional grade which has become standard for indie horror movies these days. What really makes the film stand out is the effects of Leslie's transformation, progressing with each new scene. This really makes the film more suspenseful as you wonder how she will change next and what she will become. This theme is reminiscent of "The Fly" (1986) as the audience watched Brundle's transformation.
This film has a hidden theme which reiterates the age old question "what makes a monster?" Was it the literal and physical monster of what Leslie was becoming or the metaphorical monster of Gus and Leslie's selfish father? It may be a story told before, but this film tells it in a unique way.
Overall, not too bad of a film, and an excellent first effort. If you like "Cat People" or "The Fly", you'll love "Kiss The Abyss". Definitely an indie gem well-worth checking out!
Reviewed by: Dave Mongeni www.stiffmag.com