Arbor Demon (2016)

I don't know what it is about the cover poster but because of it I was actually quite looking forward to this. Enclosure otherwise known as The Arbor Demon is yet another forest set horror movie which actually has an interesting plot, but is ruined by poor pacing and weak delivery.Starring the real spawn of Chucky (Fiona Dourif) and erm the spawn of the Gingerdead Man? (Jake Busey) it tells the story of a couple who go camping in the woods but witness the local rednecks come under attack from a mysterious creature and they may be next!It's all pretty cliched stuff that though it all comes together at the end, by that point it's all so very late.Nice ideas but ultimately the Arbor Demon is more than slightly on the boring side.The Good: Great coverDecent finaleThe Bad:Very dullPacing issuesPoorly madeThings I Learnt From This Movie:Ms Dourif does not have an ounce of the talent of her father

"Arbor Demon" weaves a tale of disappearances, secrets, legends, and "there's-something-in-them-thar-woods" horror. A husband and his wife, who is harboring a deep secret, go on a camping trip to celebrate their anniversary. During their journey through the woods, it would seem something is following them. During their first night, they hear some ominous noises...as well as shots fire. They think nothing of it, and it is on their second night the horror really begins. It would appear the rabble-rousers have move dangerously close to their campsite and are firing major sized weapons in their direction. It is also while spying on their "neighbors," the couple witness the total destruction of the other campsite.It was then the movie just about lost me...due to stupidity. Had the director been smart, he should have left this story to the couple; what exactly was going on and what was the wife's big secret she was willing to take to the grave with her. Instead, they had to cock it all up with a backstory involving one of the rowdy rebels (played by Jake Busey). The movie is rated "R" for minimal violence and language. 50/50 call on this one. It's not the worst picture you'll ever see, but it could have bee so much better.

Arbor Demon (2016)It's not often the case that I am presented with a title to review that I know very little about in advance, especially in this age of media saturation, but with Arbor Demon I knew zilch. However, as I fancied a change from the wodge of zombie flicks I had been inflicted with of late, I took comfort in the presence of the word 'demon' in the title and stuck it on. Initially Arbor Demon played like yet ANOTHER in the other currently over-saturated sub-genre of found-footage but fortunately it was not to be, and whilst far from perfect Arbor Demon made for a refreshing change and was all the welcome for simply offering something different and being confident enough to successfully pull it off.Young couple Dana and Charles (Fiona Dourif and Kevin Ryan) go camping at his insistence that doing so would afford them the opportunity reconnect with each other. You wouldn't guess that any reconnecting was necessary from the set-up but apparently it is (I suppose there wouldn't be a camping trip otherwise and a rather short empty movie being the result). Dana is pregnant and keeping the news a secret from Charles, the reason? Charles has told her that they aren't the sort of couple that have children. As the film opened with a heavily pregnant woman being pursued through woodland, before something unseen closed in on her, it would appear that something similar may happen for Dana later in the woods, given that she too is expecting.After a bunch of rowdy bikers/hunters are wiped out by something unseen Dana and Charles find themselves trapped within the tight confines of their tent. They are soon joined by a wounded man Sean (Jake Busey), the only survivor of the bloody attack. During their conversation with the rather obnoxious Sean, our young couple learn more about what maybe lurking outside the flimsy trappings of their tent and fortunately for us it's as much a surprise for us as it is for the characters making Arbor Demon a superior creature feature.For a genre critic, who sometimes feels that he has seen it all before, Arbor Demon (originally entitled as Enclosure) made for a welcome relief from the norm. It reminded a little of 1990's The Guardian, not tonally or quality-wise fortunately, but more in the respect that it's a horror story tying into nature. Director Patrick Rea, along with co-writer Michelle Davidson, prove rather heavy-handed with the exposition and early nods as to what may come, but otherwise both have succeeded in delivering something unique in a marketplace afraid to deliver outside of the established comfort zone.

I really enjoyed this wonderful character piece that is light on the gore but heavy on the atmosphere and character development. It takes a while for the threat to show up but it is ever present and the suspense is there. When it is finally revealed I was blown away by what I was presented with. The design is absolutely fantastic!! I'm being purposefully vague as I want you to experience it for yourself.The performances all around are great especially by Fiona Dourif and I never thought I would ever take a performance by Jake Busey seriously but you know what director Patrick Rea pulls it off. The score is another highlight as it really builds the tension and is moving in all the right places. A high recommend!