3 star silly but enjoyable horror anthology.
Just in time for Halloween we have this unabashed celebration of any horror fan’s favourite holiday. Bad Candy is written and directed by Scott B. Hansen (Monumental) and Desiree Connell (The Possession Experiment). Following it’s success on the festival circuit, Bad Candy is now enjoying a UK Digital and DVD release courtesy of Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
“It’s Halloween, or as we like to call it, Hell Hallows Eve.”
Bad Candy is a collection of interconnected stories, regaled by two local D.J.’s in the town of New Salem. Chilly Billy (Corey Taylor – Fear Clinic, Officer Downe) and Paul (Zach Gilligan – Gremlins, Waxwork) love Halloween, it’s their favourite night of the year. Listeners phone in to the show with suggestions, around which Chilly Billy spins chilling yarns.
The stories are diverse, ranging from a young girl, Kyra (Riley Sutton) who can materialize monsters simply by drawing them and her drunken no good step father (Kevin Wayne – The Magnificent Seven) to the evil man who puts razor blades into candy and cupcakes and hands them out to children.
What all of these stories have in common is a scary looking clown who ensures that these evil doers meet their comeuppance, although sometimes you do find yourself questioning his moral judgement. Another ongoing thread is the taxi company Free Ryde and their driver Darryl (Kenneth Trujillo – Risen).
It’s all good fun until the boys touch on a story with a hint of local truth to it, when everything comes together for an excellent twist in the tale.
The story of Halloween shenanigans in a small town is as old as the hills and still just as entertaining. Bad Candy is a well thought out and well acted story which keeps you guessing right to the end, with plenty of blood and guts, as you would expect from the certificate, and some moments of comedy too, “You roofied Lenny.”
It’s daft and a bit juvenile, but it’s about Halloween, which shouldn’t have to be the most serious of celebrations and so it has every right to be. It’s not without it’s flaws, but it’s perfect for the time of year and well worth adding to your collection. Get out your pumpkins and candy and enjoy.
“What a reminder however to check those chocolates, because you never know what tricks are in your treats.”
Bad Candy is on DVD and Digital 4 October from Kaleidoscope Entertainment