After not being able to see Scare Package at the Telluride
Horror Show last year, I was remiss I was unable to attend one of the big hits
of the film festival. Word of mouth was incredibly strong for the horror-comedy
anthology and some of my fellow critics who saw the film highly praised it. ‘One
of the best of the fest,’ they said. Thanks for rubbing it in. Fast forward to eight
months later and Scare Package is finally getting a wide release in the
US through the horror streaming service Shudder. Surprisingly, it was revealed
to be on the most recent episode of Joe Bob Brigg’s The Last Drive-In and
the entire horror community was going to be live-tweeting along with it for its
premiere – myself included. While I am eager to watch the film again when it is
uploaded next week, Scare Package is the perfect kind of film for this style
of premiere. It is the quintessential horror party film. The jokes and gore
blow by at a lightning pace while the structure lends itself well to more
casual viewing on the surface, but the it’s also so loaded with genre heart that
fans will eagerly embrace it. If the reaction by last Friday night’s crowd is
anything to judge it by, the film is already a cult classic staple.
As with all anthologies, including but not limited to the
variety that has been reviewed here at Blood Brothers, the quality between segments
can fluctuate. Depending on the viewer’s taste, the mileage may vary. This is no
different for Scare Package. For the most part, most of the segments in the
film cater to the 1980s American horror genre, particularly of the slasher variety.
If that’s not a genre you’re wholly familiar with then much of the fun and detailing
may fall on deaf ears. If you’re reading this review, I’m just going to assume
that is not the case and the slasher tropes will be quite familiar.
After a meta-driven opening sequence, where a stock side
character becomes aware of his place in horror movie lore and attempts to
change his fate (fittingly titled “Cold Open,”) the horror-comedy flick immediately
unveils the wrap-around story of its concept – a horror video store. By this
time, the film already reveals the heart and soul of its narrative drive. Scare
Package is a horror film made by horror fans for horror fans.
The in-jokes, from the first minute, are dense and particularly nuanced to the
genre. They are routinely injected into a variety of short stories that revere
the tropes and flaws of the genre as much as they poke fun at them. It creates
a tonality that fits the fast pacing of its bounding leaps from story to story
and makes even some of the weaker stories feel like it’s built to entertain.
In terms of the execution, the style of each story can
waiver. The film starts and ends on its high notes, truly soaring in its third
act which features a significantly effective cameo and some Behind the Mask
inspired slasher comedic punches, but throughout its runtime continually
provides the shrieks and giggles. The gore throughout is astoundingly fun and
often times the various directors/writers feel like they have to maximize the
limited time they are given. Even within the shorts, there are some wild spins
and twists to the stories whether they are meant to be more comedic or more
artistic. Either way, there is energy through the direction, writing, and
performances that is immediately infectious which easily carries the film
through any potholes and stutter steps that come naturally with the anthology
format.
The biggest hurdle that Scare Package needs to
overcome is simply whether or not its audience will buy into the concept.
Anthologies are one thing, but the film does not hesitate to simply throw its
viewer straight into the grinder with jokes, gore, and Easter Eggs pelting them
from all directions. However, if a person is willing to strap in, this comedic
horror ride is incredible. The shorts are just diversified enough to remain
unique, the speed of the writing is debauched, and the style between segments
only embraces the tonal insanity with the most eager of shit-eating grins. Scare
Package is the whole package if you want it and it’s easily one of my
favorite horror-comedies in the last decade. Horror fans take note, this is one
to invite your friends over for a beer to watch.
Written By Matt Reifschneider
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