Indie Film Review: The Crumbs (2020) Directed David J. Espinosa

 

Dr. Benjamin Crumb and his family run a Bed and Breakfast in the woods where the family performs experiments on unsuspecting guests.

REVIEW

Can a horror/thriller movie have a heart? The Crumbs is superbly entertaining and goes where I didn’t think a horror/thriller movie could go…AND it succeeds!

Directed by David J. Espinosa (who also plays Angel Valente) and written by Craig Ahrens (who does a cameo) and David J. Espinosa. The Crumbs is a bit like Resident Evil 7 video game storyline mixed with a bit of the Wrong Turn, then add a dash of the “feels” to it, yes, I said the feels!

We encounter Dr. Benjamin Crumb and his family who run a quaint B&B in the woods where not all checkout. But not before getting lab-tested by Dr. Benjamin Crumb with the aid of his family and helper Leonard. Don’t worry though they don’t waste the dead meat if you know what I mean. This is just the tip of the Crumbs dysfunction too. So, pray you have a reservation. The Crumbs family has a code of honor you know.

The Crumbs is a totally awesome film. I cannot stop raving! It keeps you glued to each juicy bit throughout flowing along seamlessly. Kudos to David Johnson on cinematography. I loved this one-shot where it looks like it’s a drone shot looking down over the forest as you see the transition of the night into day. This shot seems to of been done in real-time. Not sure if it was, but it was a standout shot for me.

The cast is so amazing, and as I mentioned you think you know where the plot is going, but then it takes you on shall I say a surprisingly…uh touching…um turn? So, the Crumbs may not be as sinister as you thought? Perhaps they are just misunderstood…well you need to watch to find out.

I rate The Crumbs 5 out of 5 stars  *****

Available to watch on Amazon PRIME

INDIE FILM REVIEW: Psychopomp (2020) Writer/ Director: Arthur G. Reyes

 

Suffering amnesia after a mysterious accident, film director Archie Finch pieces together his life with the help of a seeming specter.

REVIEW

Psychopomp is an art-house style indie piece; thus, you have to kind of observe it through a different set of eyes. This is Indie, this is film art and passion, and low budget. Not top budget Hollywood. That being said  Psychopomp is a psychological/horror that, messes with your mind mentality film. If this is what director and writer Arthur Reyes was going for then Psychopomp totally works.

When we open, we meet Archie who we find is currently in psychological therapy. He suffers from amnesia after being in some form of an accident as well as being haunted by these odd dreams, which start to blend into his reality leaving the viewer not knowing what is Archie's real-life or his whacked-out dreams. That is until a pivotal moment where Archie does start to remember. In flashbacks, we learn the truth of what happened and the truth about Archie himself.

Throughout this though a TV or microwave head guy is roaming around hunting for Archie. Reyes (Director) does a great smooth blend of working him into Archie's life when he finally manages to catch Archie.

Acting-wise only two people stood out for me that I thought brought bright life to the film. That was Samantha Weller (Birdie) and Maria Olsen (Rita) who you might remember seeing as Mrs. Dodds/The Fury in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Paranormal Activity 3, American Horror Story, and Rob Zombie's Lords of Salem.

Weller retains the best line in the whole film I think, “I’m Free.” The way she delivered that line at that moment and the repercussion of the meaning behind that line too… it just gave me chills. I just think that was the best line in the whole film.

So, if psychological/horror acid tripping movies your thing? Check out Psychopomp.

My Rating **** (4 stars out of 5)

AVAILABLE NOW OVER ON AMAZON PRIME.