Beckoning the Butcher (2013)

Found footage films, as a way of telling a story, has really taken off since 'The Blair Witch Project'. The approach has its fans and detractors, but to me remains an intriguing and legitimate way of telling a story. More than that, the approach invites us here to become the sixth member of a five-person group. We are invited into their mildly intimate thoughts by way of their ongoing filmed blogging (designed to be uploaded onto a website specialising in ghost-hunts), and we get to know them all in a way that wouldn't be as effective as if this were a straightforward film. That way, when the whispered legend of 'the Butcher' begin to come true and mildly spooky things start happening in the remote building in which they are staying, the scares make us jump too. We're even mildly irritated when Tara (Stephanie Mauro) is the only one to refuse to produce blood next to her signature when agreeing to take part in the project, although that has fatal repercussion later.Many of the successful elements of 'Blair Witch' are present in this Australian slow-burner (watches stopping, member of the group going missing, trying to escape but going round in circles etc). So while the boxes are ticked, there is no lessening of their impact – this is a successful formula, and 'Beckoning the Butcher' uses it very well. It doesn't reinvent the 'found footage' formula, but it utilises every successful element of the genre. And on a personal note, it works entirely – after watching this I've just tentatively visited every room in my apartment to make sure there is no-one there. Irrational? Embarrassing? Both, more than likely, but if a low-budget film like this can have that effect on a jaded old long-time horror-fan, then 'found footage' is medium that has secured a DIFFERENT way to scare.The five main cast members are good, natural performers. There's no element of 'putting on a show'. Only the physicist Shannon (Janet Watson-Kruse) threatens to dampen the illusion, and that's because she's been lumbered with fanciful eulogising dialogue about 'spiritual intervention' and 'time bubbles.' However, it is her words that come to mind when the group's collective time-pieces stop working. They are captured in perpetual night (3.am) that will not end until 'the Butcher' has had his way with them.'Beckoning the Butcher' is non-specific title, and the DVD cover, featuring the cast in a selection of horrified grimace, could almost suggest a comedy. Don't be fooled, this is no comedy; it is one of the best examples of its kind.

Five friends go to an out-of-the-way house to summon a ghost called The Butcher. Nobody thinks it's real, so they believe they'll have one or two days of just sitting back and trying not to laugh too hard as they conduct a ritual to summon the spirit. Unfortunately for them, the ghost turns out to be all too real. This is filmed through camcorders, as most of these found-footage films are, so don't expect anything out of the cinematography.I have to disagree with one of the other reviewers who said it's the best found footage film since The Blair Witch Project. It was interesting, but kinda boring until the entity finally showed up. First of all, it was only 69 minutes long. When you have 5 characters in such a short film, it's hard to build enough of an attachment for the audience to care about them. That's what happened here. Plus, it's not as though a group of people looking for a ghost by using dark magic hasn't happened before in a movie, so it wasn't very original. And then the clichés of no cellphone service and the car not working happened. There were a few scenes of special effects, but it wasn't over-used, so I think they got that about right.I gave this a 5-star rating, because the acting was pretty good, and the people conveyed a real sense of fear. However, I've seen better found-footage films. Still, it was entertaining enough for what it was. I'm glad it wasn't longer, because I couldn't take much more of the screaming and the jerky camera footage from the running. If you're a found-footage fan, I recommend this. However, if you have limited time to put into movies, I'd advice you keep looking.

Coming into Beckoning the Butcher, I was expecting nothing. I wanted to like it being from Australia, but I had my hesitations. But I am glad to say that it wasn't a waste of time, in fact, it was quite entertaining.What I liked about this little movie the most was the low budget approach. Now, I know this is out of the hands of the director and if he had his way, I am sure it would be a bigger budget, but for Found Footage, the whole idea is to make you believe that its an amateur found footage. With a higher budget, the authenticity of the whole situation is lost in translation.The way Beckoning the Butcher is made, reminded me of the Blair Witch Project. While not as good as TBWP, it still had the slow burn atmospheric grip, unlike films like Paranormal Activity, which relies on cheap jump scares. Beckoning the Butcher takes its time and it gradually becomes scarier, which is what I appreciated the most.If you are a die hard fan of this sub genre, then definitely check this one out. If you are only a casual fan, or a fan that is fed up with the amount of Found Footage stuff coming out, give it a miss, but I am definitely happy I have it in my collection!

Horror is no longer in the eye of the beholder, but digitally chronicled and fearfully observed – such is the notion of the 'found footage horror' craze of the past decade that has already seen its fair share of terrifyingly inventive highs to eye-rolling lows, faster than any other sub-genre. Yet unlike the torture porn or neo-grindhouse subgenres, this has bred a whole new generation of talented filmmakers on a far more global scale; innovative in terms of methods of filming, centralized narrative, unexpected scares and all while on the lowest budget possible. It's main selling point. Australian filmmaker Dale Trott (A.K.A. Alexander) is no stranger to this and with Beckoning The Butcher (Interspliced Media's debut effort) he doesn't attempt to reinvent or outdo others but instead revel in a traditionalist approach to the archaic haunted house formula. As such, he succeeds in creating a well-written, character- driven, low budget thriller capitalizes on found footage's core principles.In his latest escapade internet sensation and wannabe-ghost hunter, Chris Shaw (Damien E. Lipp), his girlfriend Tara (Stephanie Mauro), and their closest friends (Sophie Wright, Tilly Legge and Tristan Barr), venture to an isolated countryside property in order to conduct and document a supposed 'blood incantation' found only on the deepest, darkest underbelly of internet web forums. However the group's investigation into the ritual's legitimacy turns sinister as their bid for internet fame rapidly descends into a night of survival when they unknowingly summon forth a malevolent entity known simply as 'the Butcher'. When a low budget film is dipped in enough fright tactics and character development to warrant genuine concern for the welfare and survival of these doomed characters, you know you're in the hands of an incredibly adaptive filmmaker. The only setback for Beckoning The Butcher is guilt by association; the obligatory camera static, distorted sounds, visual trickery akin to that used in Paranormal Activity and the unavoidable comparisons to said franchise aside; however, these stylized motifs are used assuredly, yet as sparingly as possible, within the confines of cinematography. Trott is a triple threat serving as director, writer and editor who cunningly employs the use of the budgetary limitations to his advantage and infuses them into the film's aesthetics resulting in a psychologically effective chiller – thus illuminating Trott's understanding of the cinematic mechanisms behind found-footage's two main staples; timing and execution. The two are enhanced and achieved by opting for far more traditional atmospheric scares à la the works of James Wan and Scott Derrickson, drawing out the anticipation during the relentless stalking of the hapless individuals desperate to outmanoeuvre the Butcher. From ominous beginning to blood curdling end, the symbiotic relationship between the performances and dilapidated property matches the intended psychological approach with vigour, as every faint creak and startling door slam is complimented by the deeply invested cast.A cautionary ghost story for the digital age, Dale Trott's surprisingly cerebral and refined supernatural thriller Beckoning The Butcher is a must see hidden gem for genre fans, especially those of the 'sceptical-till-proven-scared senseless' demographic. Trott's focused screenplay and tight direction intersected with his even tighter editing skills and outstanding sense of timing, boasts an air-tight sense of assertive control and confidence serving as an example for any aspiring filmmaker interested in this sub-genre. Technically proficient the film never forgets to have fun with the standard horror formula, especially during the chilling final act.See the review & more @ http://critics-corner.com/