Starring: Lindsay Bennett-Thompson, leuan Coombs, Jonathan Keeble
Directed by: David A. Roberts
I think that we as horror fans can concur that cult-like followings have their own innate sense of creepiness which, under the right performances can really give viewers a sense of dread and convey some chilling instances on-screen. Director David A. Roberts’ latest project, OLDER GODS uses a slow-plotting formula, coupled with some Lovecraftian-undertones to put audiences through a slow, grinding presentation…and it worked out strikingly well according to this reviewer.
First off, I’d like to send thanks out to Holly Kehoe from Wagyu Films for the opportunity to check this one out – Holly’s not only the associate producer of this film, but managed to hop in front of the cameras to play a role in it as well. Straight-off the rip here, this movie is aimed at shrouding the viewers in a rather heavy-scenario – Chris Rivers (Rory Wilson) is grieving the suicide-death of his childhood friend Billy (Coombs), and while visiting his old pal’s stomping grounds in the Wales countryside, it becomes blatantly apparent that his death was aided by some seriously sinister backing. The signs of an apocalyptic cult are scattered throughout the area, and it only takes a minute before the notion of Chris’s amateurish-detective tactics have begun to kick up some dirt in the wrong faces.
As it becomes more & more clear as to what entity may have caused a role in Billy’s passing, Chris’s grief continues to take a personal toll upon his psyche, and with all of the extraneous pressures of wanting some answers, it looks as if his walls are crumbling around him. Roberts’ directorial style in no way sacrifices the story or its conveyance with flashy, in-your-face shriek-a-minute scares – it’s more of a progressive ramping-up of occurrences…like a chef working his secret recipe – the results are noteworthy. Also, the performances here are only rivaled by the cinematography itself, with sweeping panoramic views of the countryside, and dream sequences that’ll have you smacking yourself to make sure you didn’t fall into this otherworld while immersing yourself in the visuals.
Overall, OLDER GODS is one of those movies that could potentially sneak by the casual viewer while they’re scanning for a new watch, but take my advice (about a couple cents worth) – this is without a doubt a film that should be checked out, especially for fans of the cult-following sub-genre. I’ve had winter coats that didn’t weigh this heavily upon me, but it’s a welcome addition to my watch-list and it should absolutely be on yours as well. It’s currently streaming on Amazon right now, and should be landing on most other platforms by August – kill the lights and wrap yourself in some brooding sorrow…it can actually be fun.
