Tie Die
Tie Die follows a group of hippies who set out to spend some time in nature. But after what seems like a violent bear attack, Park Ranger Jones (Lloyd Kaufman) closes the park and forces the hippies to find a new camping spot. What should be a fun, music-filled weekend for these peace-loving, happy-go-lucky hippies turns into a bloody, Plantasia-fueled nightmare.
Writer/director Morgan Miller’s directorial feature debut (that’s not to minimize the impact of his documentary Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors, which can be viewed on YouTube) feels like a love letter to the films of his childhood. Tie Die wears its budget on its sleeve but never once uses it as a crutch. This micro-budget madness doesn’t take itself too seriously and still finds a way to have an incredible presence.
Tie Die is a hybrid slasher/creature feature, and Miller’s script finds exciting ways to string you along until the finale. Micro-budget films have somewhat become synonymous with, to be polite, questionable acting. Miller’s direction of the cast works for what the film is, and it shows tons of promise for a debut feature. Some of the acting does feel a bit like a first-take, but Matt in the Hat (played by Scott Hayes) steals the show. His quirky, off-putting, but still friendly demeanor feels way too out of place, but the film would not be what it is without him front and center.
With gory, well-done practical effects and a surprisingly enjoyable soundtrack, Tie Die absolutely delighted me and kept my full attention until the credits rolled. I will say I’m getting a little frustrated by the plethora of “starring Joe Bob Briggs” films that feature him for less than a minute–thankfully, we get a TON of screen time from Lloyd Kaufman. This made-for-CRT movie is bloody fun. Not to put words in his mouth, but if you’re in low-budget-horror-Twitter and know who Jeff Whitmire is, Tie Die feels like it would be a Jeff Whitmire-approved film.
Image courtesy of Panic Fest
Beyond the Drumlins
In Beyond the Drumlins, archeology student Cameron Burson (Emma Jessop) joins Professors Mary Boyd (Morgan DeTogne) and Johnathan Rust (Michael Kowalski), among others, on a trip to an uncharted forest. What starts as a scouting operation for the Professors’ upcoming semester turns strange when Cameron goes missing, and team members start acting…differently.
Beyond the Drumlins is a unique blend of horror and sci-fi that effortlessly blurs the line between life and death. The plot could easily go off the rails and lose itself within its canon if it weren’t for the tight script from cowriters Dan Bowhers and Michael Kowalski. Kowalski pulls double duty as cowriter/star, while Bowhers pulls double duty as cowriter/director. The film is confident in its subject matter and doesn’t leave the viewer with any [real] lasting questions. But…
I left Beyond the Drumlins without feeling any lasting connection to it. As quickly as it came, it was gone. There were no glaring issues with the film, and I love archeology-related film/TV, but as the credits rolled, I was ready to move on to the next film. I think there will be a group of horror fans who connect with the story and love it for that, it just didn’t do that for me.