This tale is a lot of fun. Reisch and Cappuzzo have good chemistry, and Wyrzuc is badass. Navniut is ominous as the strange woman with a too-good-to-be-true deal. The scene where Lee comes clean is well-acted, and the reason Emily thinks he might be cheating makes sense. The ending is shocking and intense, and it works completely. While the shortest of the three stories, running just under 20 minutes, it is the most effective and eerie.
The final segment of Dating Horror Stories follows Daniel (Jeff Clark Jr.), who has had a crush on Tina (Yvette Irene) since she was a model. Well, after her mobster husband dies, she’s back on the dating scene and he gets the chance he’s so longed for. The date goes well, though the way Tina talks about her dog as if the animal were an actual human baby. This does not concern Daniel, and on the second date, he goes over to Tina’s and meets the beloved pooch. Tina explains that the dog has not been eating well ever since her husband’s passing. The reason is that the canine eats the man’s victims, leaving very little evidence of the crime. So in order to please Tina, Jeff agrees to find food for the dog.
“…a lot of fun.”
Yes, there are two tales of eating human flesh back to back. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so noticeable if the first segment was between these two, but alas, that is not the case. As such, this does suffer a little from a “been there, seen it” vibe. However, the inclusion of Daniel’s psychopathic sister adds a much-needed spark. It certainly helps that Irene plays the demanding dog owner exceptionally well, coming across as irrational yet still likable.
Overall, Dating Horror Stories is a fun, slightly spooky, somewhat humorous anthology. While some plotholes exist, there’s a real sense of danger and chills to be found. The cast throughout is quite strong, and the comedy mixes well with the horror. The film breezes by at 94 minutes long, which is just the right length to be engaging but not overstay its welcome.
"…breezes by..."
