November 21, 2006
The Gravedancers
After Dark HorrorFest - An enjoyable, somewhat cheesy horror throwback
Starring: Dominic Purcell, Clare Kramer
Rating: 6/10
Directed By: Mike Mendez
Runtime: 90 minutes
Starring: Dominic Purcell, Clare Kramer
Rating: 6/10
Directed By: Mike Mendez
Runtime: 90 minutes
Mike Mendez’s The Convent (2000) is one of those anomalous straight to video features that most viewers pick up in hopes of a “so bad it’s good” experience and, instead, find themselves watching a solid little horror comedy. I can see The Gravedancers inhabiting that same space. It’s a movie with a laughable premise – three friends stir up the spirits of 3 murderers by dancing on their graves – that succeeds more often than it fails. This is in no small part to the Mendez’s manic, no holds barred approach to the material. This is a kitchen sink movie. The film slides from the subtle scares of Asian horror to the gory thrills of the Evil Dead trilogy. Although the lack of cohesion prevents it from gaining any sort of classic horror status, any self respecting horror fan will enjoy the hour and a half they get to spend with Mendez’s ghoulish delights.