GALLERY OF FEAR (2011)

Streaming on Tubi!
Directed by Alan Rowe Kelly & Anthony G. Sumner
Written by Alan Rowe Kelly & Anthony G. Sumner (based on a story by Doug Smith)
Starring Debbie Rochon, Jerry Murdock, Zoe Daelman Chlanda, Raine Brown, Alan Rowe Kelly, Katherine O’Sullivan, Terry M. West, Don Money, Benzy, Mike Lane, Terry Shane, Miguel Lopez, Robert Norman, Shane Khulman, Tom Lanier, Susan Andriensen, Jesse May Laumann, David Marancik

Those looking for the next big name in independent horror should look no further than Alan Rowe Kelly and Anthony G. Sumner. Sumner brought us the horror anthology 3 SLICES OF LIFE last year and it looks like he hasn’t taken any time off since. As with most horror anthologies, some of the stories in GALLRY OF FEAR are better than others, but all rank high for taking full advantage of effects that don’t outreach the budget and venturing places big budget horrors fear to tread.

The film is book-ended with a story starring scream queen Debbie Rochon playing a snobby art critic left in an abandoned gallery. Though this story is light on the scares, Rochon does segue the three short installments very well. A la NIGHT GALLERY, Rochon flits from one twisted painting to the next, giving down-snouted criticism while swizzling a glistening champagne flute that looks somewhat sinister in the right light.

The first segment is called “By Her Hand She Draws You Down”, a twisted tale of artistic vampirism and a complex relationship between a husband and wife. The wife, played by Zoe Daelman Chlanda, is a boardwalk artist who is quite talented, but when she uses a particular red chalk, the artwork saps the life from those posing. Star of each segment Jerry Murdock takes a nice dramatic turn in this installment as the voice of reason to his constantly soul-hungry wife, who is willing to take anyone’s life with the stroke of a piece of chalk. This was a nice segment to start out with. A slow burner with really nice effects. And whoever did the art for the sketches is one talented artist as each of the soul stealing works look like penciled photography.

Next up is a more comical piece of B-Movie mayhem. Though lacking the heart of the first segment, “Down the Drain” makes up for it with funny bone. Jerry Murdock returns in this one, this time homaging Bill Murray’s CADDYSHACK performance as a dimwitted and down on his luck substitute teacher who can’t seem to get any respect from anyone. Things start to pick up when the sad sack goes off his meds and starts seeing a sewer monster. Then those who antagonized him start dying. This is a fun piece, reminiscent of CREEPSHOW’s “The Crate” sequence, especially when the teacher’s annoying wife shows up to berate him.

The final installment is what makes this film something worth seeking out. “A Far Cry From Home” succeeds as a revenge film, a killer hillbilly film, and also as a bit of social commentary. Imagine if Harvey Fierstein got lost in the backwoods of Hillbilly USA. That’s the premise here as homophobia turns to all out assault on a homosexual couple who happen along the wrong antique shop in the middle of nowhere. A lot of clichés are utilized in this one, but they are done so with a deft hand. Just when you think this is going one way, the story zags. There is lots of gore here, but it’s the hateful dialog the bible-thumping hillbillies spew which ring as most horrific. Murdock returns in this installment, proving he’s got a lot of range, this time playing a truly imposing bile-spewing redneck. Though the first two segments were fun, Sumner and Kelly definitely saved the best for last, taking a B-line into serious horror territory.

GALLERY OF FEAR is another fantastic anthology from two filmmakers who aren’t afraid to take bold turns and tackle tough subject matter through the bloody lens of horror. I’ll definitely be keeping you all in the know when and where you can check this one out.

Check out the trailer here!!