Ian Courtney makes his feature-length debut with Movie Theater Massacre. The film is a love letter to every motion picture and filmmaker that has influenced the writer-director’s love of the cinematic arts. It is also an ode to the movie palaces, not the multiplexes, that allow cinephiles to get lost in flickering lights for 90 minutes or so. Well, the comedic slasher is all that for its first 60 minutes at least, as the final 15 s**t the bed completely, but more on that later.
Behind the scenes at the Redford Theater, employees prepare film reels as the slasher stalks in Movie Theater Massacre.
“…these people are missing their shifts because a killer clad all in black has murdered them.”
Redford Theater closes permanently in six days, causing ennui amongst its staff. General manager Dan (Adam DeFilippi) relies heavily on keyholder Val (Caitlin Cavannaugh), especially as the building’s owner parades investors in and out, hoping to make a sale. They are both concerned about the employee who helped Val close on Sunday but hasn’t been seen since. Jake (Jalen Wilson-Nelem), Wily (LeJon Woods), and Rachel (Jessie Carl) are showing up on time, though a few other employees have also taken absent. Dramatic irony lets the audience know that these people are missing their shifts because a killer clad all in black has murdered them. Will the movie theater staff survive long enough to see their beloved cinema close its doors for good?
Movie Theater Massacre has many issues that are common to extremely low-budget productions. The lighting is very basic, and the camera work is reminiscent of Kevin Smith. This means there isn’t much atmosphere to the slasher moments. This extends to the other scenes as well, but as they are mostly dialogue-driven, that isn’t exactly a huge deal.
"…an ode to the movie palaces, not the multiplexes, that allow cinephiles to get lost in flickering lights..."
