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Cast: Lydia Chandler, Tim Morris, Bill Oberst Jr., Jack Harrison, Capel Kane
Dana is failing Biology. To pass she must attend an extra credit assignment with several classmates that will lead them into a remote region of the Great Dismal Swamp, a place teeming with life... and death. While the group keeps one eye out for hungry bear, deadly snakes and lurking gators, they are unaware of the real danger. For the top of the food chain lives in a dingy cabin not too far from their campsite, and he has an appetite for human flesh.
A throw back to the 70's horror like "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and any other cannibal horror flick you can think of. "Dismal" doesn't offer anything really new as far as the genre goes but it does execute well. Nothing in the film really scared me but I haven't been scared by any film since I was little so you can't go by me, there are several scenes I think might get some people to jump and there is a few scenes of gore going on that might give some of you a weak stomach. For a low-budget effort I was impressed with the over-all production of the film from the setting, cinematography and the effects. The acting was another thing that came as a pleasant surprise, the entire cast did a terrific job but the stand-outs to me were Bill Oberst, Jr does deranged perfectly, as Dale and Lydia Chandler, as Dana, both gave great performances considering the genre. With horror remakes and sequels flooding cinemas today it is nice to see a horror film done in a traditional way, no PG horror here and no big name egos either, "Dismal" is a what you see is what you get horror film that fans are going to want to check out, it provides some good kills, gore and even some humor as well it lighten things up from time to time. Another thing I really liked about the film was the ending which wasn't one of those "happy endings" we see nowadays. Looking at Director, Gary King's resume it shows he has done a mix of genres, I haven't seen any of his other films but I can say he has a good eye for horror and I hope to see him tackle the genre again very soon.
"Dismal" is an entertaining horror flick that keeps it old school and does everything well, I suggest picking it up and taking a look for yourself. You can order the DVD HERE.
The DVD comes with Special Features that include:
Trailer
Still Gallery
Released by Cinema Epoch
*** 1/2 Out Of *****