1 Hour To Kill is a horror comedy made by people who believe in it. Director Jim Klock also stars as Danny, while screenwriter Chad Rigley co-stars as Pete. Does the filmmakers’ passion for the material come through to the audiences, or is this dead on arrival?
Lori (Autumn Federici) is a television producer at the end of her wits. She’s desperate for a hit and hires actors Danny and Sheryl (Alexis Kelley) to portray a paranormal investigator and a psychic, respectively. Her hook? Lori has her fake ghost hunting team, including h***y cameraman Pete, investigate the real home of serial killer Jimmy Timmy Beck (Scott Burkhardt). Unbeknownst to them, though, the producer has rigged up several parts of the house to spook the team. The creepy antics of homeowner Stanford (Robin F. Baker) and his array of weaponry certainly don’t help matters. As Danny, Sheryl, Pete, and Lori explore the grounds, it becomes clear they aren’t alone. In fact, Emmett (Michael Buonomo) is stalking about as well. But why is he there? What will everyone do if they run into the ghost of Jimmy?
Humour is very subjective. With that said, 1 Hour To Kill is hilarious through and through. The introduction to Danny and Sheryl, with them being pelted with leaves, is ridiculous indeed. When Lori is so happy that her rig on the door still works even when the electricity goes out, it’s hilarious. The running gag involving Pete always saying the wrong thing never gets old. Everything involving Stanford is super silly.
“As Danny, Sheryl, Pete, and Lori explore the grounds, it becomes clear they aren’t alone.”
The cast clearly understands the material and pitches their performances to match. Klock’s way of explaining that his character is afraid of steam is deadpan brilliance. Kelley musing over her lost spa day matches the same energy as Rachel McAdams’s perfect acting in Game Night. Baker vacillates from over-the-top to off-putting with ease. Federici is the straight person to all the craziness, both in terms of the comedy and horror, and nails it.
But 1 Hour To Kill isn’t just a comedy; it is also a horror film. So, is it frightening? Mostly, yes. There is a reliance on jump scares and the lights going out, which gets a little repetitive. But Burkhardt and Buonomo bring the creep factor and fully commit to it. The lore surrounding Jimmy Timmy Beck is eerie, and the ending delivers a handful of genuine shocks.
1 Hour To Kill is an amazing comedy and a pretty good horror film. The cast dives in with verve, and the direction maintains the dualing tones reasonably well. If one is in need of some smiles coupled with a few jump scares, Klock and Rigley’s delightful offering foots the bill perfectly.
For more information, visit the 1 Hour To Kill official site.
"…an amazing comedy and a pretty good horror film."
