“Shady Grove” is not a horror film as I see it. It is in the misandrist suspense category. It is one of those films that drops a multitude of hints along its plot line but the hints only make sense after the closing credits roll. Sort of like a puzzle suddenly making sense.
Shaina (Niki McElroy), Mark (Todd Anthony) and their hyperactive friend Elijah (Juhan Jones) rent a cabin in the Catskills wanting to chill out for a day.
Some bad shit is going on around the cabin and in the Grove. Strangely masked animal characters steal a newborn and put it in a crate and nail it shut. Not a good sign. They also kill a teen (male) that was hanging around the cabin with a crossbow shot to his heart. OK so this has grabbed your interest.
Elijah off to get some beer and chips meets Chloe at a convenience store and invites her to a party at the cabin. Chloe shows up with gal pal Taylor and there is something about the two girls that is off kilter.
HINT: Is Shaina a closet lesbian?
HINT: Shania is pregnant. Remember the opening scene!
HINT: When Taylor says she hopes the child that Shania is carrying is a girl. How did Taylor know she was pregnant?
HINT: Taylor says we are all the same here in the town.
HINT: Why doesn’t the sheriff shoot the attacking masked crowd instead shooting in the air warning them.
HINT: Why the sex scene between Mark and Taylor?
You should be able to identify the bad guys here but predicting the ending will prove far more difficult but when you do reach that point these hints make sense.
Aside from an overdone and cheesy escape scene the acting works and Jones adds some spark with his zany self-absorbed sex crazed and obnoxious behavior (HINT).
No you won’t be quaking in your boots with this film but its ending adds a nice spin to a lumbering film.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18njbzzRIWs
The film will be released on digital platforms on 25October2022.
RKS Film Rating 67/100.
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