In Dark Ride a group of
teenagers spend the night in an closed haunted attraction with horrific
results. No Oscars for any of the actors to be sure, but the atmosphere
and gore save the day.
Written by BHM Contributor
Michael Saunier April 15, 2007
Release: 2006 Directed
by: Craig Singer Written by: Robert Dean Klein and Craig Singer
Starring:
Jamie Lynn-DiScala as Cathy Patrick Renna as Bill David Clayton Rogers as Steve Alex Sorowitz as Jim Andrea Bogart as Jen
The AfterDark Horrorfest is following in the footsteps of The
Masters of Horror series by bringing independent feature length horror
movies to the public. Even though most of these releases are
definitely geared towards horror aficionados, some of them do have a
mass appeal and possibly could have functioned as a major release with
the proper promotion. Dark Ride one of the best of
the Horrorfest series.
First, a working definition followed by a synopsis of Dark
Ride. A “Dark Ride” is the scary
amusement ride at a local carnival, fair or amusement park. A group of
college kids are traveling south for Spring Break, and decide to spend
the night in an amusement park dark ride rather than spend their money
on a hotel. The group has an interesting range of characters including
an ex-boyfriend and girlfriend who are still friends, a shy and nerdy
movie buff and a drug-loving party guy with a 70’s van. On
their way south the group picks up an attractive yet neurotic female
hitchhiker, but I don’t think she had anything to do with the
story other than being the one that takes her top off.
Long
story short the kids decide to stay in the dark ride for the night and
havoc ensues when the group discovers they are not alone and are being
stalked by a maniac.
Dark Ride has two major shortcomings: Acting and the
ending. The acting is sub-par but, then again, we all know we
aren’t sitting down to a horror movie for the Oscar-worthy
talent. Jamie Lynn-DiScala (Meadow from The Sopranos) is
particularly dull and should be savoring her Sopranos fame
because after that show finishes up this spring she might be
actually working at one of these rides. Dark Ride’s
ending is the second major shortcoming as there are no real surprises.
I’m no Sherlock Holmes but I still figured this one out with
little problem.
Dark
Ride also has some serious highlights. The movie improves on
the “naïve kids in a horror ride” idea
tremendously, and probably used Tobe Hooper’s Funhouse
as inspiration. Dark Ride shows the ride as
a fun place where kids enjoy themselves and then shows the
same images after the mayhem begins, illustrating a very effective
contrast. The effects and gore in Dark Ride are
well done, especially the design of the killer’s costume.
They hit the nail right on the head by showing a hulking guy with a
mask made from the face of a babydoll. I personally found it a bit
eerie and demented, but it works.
The sound effects in Dark Ride relied heavily on
the sounds and noises that one would typically find in a haunted ride,
calling childhood memories that most of us have from such experiences.
I love
scary amusement park rides and have been known to travel long distances
every weekend during Halloween to get my fill of the year’s
haunted houses. The scares from such haunted attractions fall into the
“startle” category. After watching Dark
Ride it is easy to see how the same hokey images can cross
the line into true terror…straight from hokey to horrific.
Go see Dark Ride if you like slasher films. There is bad acting and a
weak plot, but I promise that the claustrophobic atmosphere and nicely
placed gore more than make up for it. Questions
or comments about Dark Ride? Contact us!
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Dark
Ride also has some serious highlights. The movie improves on
the “naïve kids in a horror ride” idea
tremendously, and probably used Tobe Hooper’s Funhouse
as inspiration. Dark Ride shows the ride as
a fun place where kids enjoy themselves and then shows the
same images after the mayhem begins, illustrating a very effective
contrast. The effects and gore in Dark Ride are
well done, especially the design of the killer’s costume.
They hit the nail right on the head by showing a hulking guy with a
mask made from the face of a babydoll. I personally found it a bit
eerie and demented, but it works.
The sound effects in Dark Ride relied heavily on
the sounds and noises that one would typically find in a haunted ride,
calling childhood memories that most of us have from such experiences.
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y!
MyWeb