Aside from those issues, writer-director B. Luciano Barsugilia has crafted a nifty little film that works within its budget. While it does take a long time for things to really start happening, as it is over an hour before the convicts and horror-loving preppers cross paths, the leads prove interesting enough to hold the audience’s attention. Well, for the most part anyway.
The slow descent into the new normal for Billy, Gordon, and Cassie is filled with offbeat humor, such as Gordon’s application of clown makeup just to idle the time away. The action, when it finally arrives, is well handled and exciting. The strobe effects of the haunted house are put to great use and give those scenes that much more of a thrilling edge.
“…filled with offbeat humor…”
The acting is a bit of a mixed bag. Jed Rowen is a lot of fun as Gordon and brings a demented energy to the role. Giese, as the scientifically-minded Billy, is serviceable if a bit bland. Tasha Tacosa proves excellent in the action scenes but is very annoying otherwise. Berryman, Grieco, and Wells are perfectly fine in their two-minute roles, but again, they cannot really stretch themselves too much.
Impact Event is not for everybody. Its focus on characters versus action will leave some viewers bored, as there is not a lot of forward momentum. The acting is a bit of a hodgepodge but is overall pretty decent. The long runtime does mean parts feel padded, and the film could be trimmed for a tighter, smoother watch. But, Barsuglia imbues his film with an odd, charming humor, and the three ostensible leads are engaging. Plus, once the cannibals and scare workers go head-to-head, the thrills intensify quickly. Overall, the movie is a slight but fine diversion.
"…once the cannibals and scare workers go head-to-head, the thrills intensify..."
