Two New Reviews of SUMMIT!

After screenings, I tend to google my name and the film's title for a few days to see if I come across any reviews or social media mentions, and I was pleasantly surprised to see two today! 

The first is from ScreenRelish (a site that's kind of a big deal - has a big following) and is a very positive review! Based on how they describe the upcoming screenings of the film, I assume they came across it via the Joblo article from last month. I had sent JoBlo a streaming link in case they wanted to review it and it seems ScreenRelish got the link from them.  

The other is from 411Mania (not a site I've heard of, but also has a very decent social media following) and was definitely from the Scare-A-Con screening. It's not a positive review, but not completely negative. It's actually surprisingly flattering despite the writer not fully enjoying the film! I think what they expected to get out of the film is not what I/we aimed to do with it. But their feedback is appreciated nonetheless. Their opinion is sure to be shared by many horror fans. But I'm proud of the direction we went with Summit and it's nice to see 2 out of 3 reviewers (so far) appreciated it.  (Scroll down.)

A Review of SUMMIT!

In my recap of the Scare-A-Con screening, I wrote that we noticed an audience member taking notes and assumed he was writing a review. Well, we were right! He tweeted at us with a link. Here it is: http://that-one-review.blogspot.com/2015/09/summit.html.

It's pretty revealing of the plot, but I'm okay with sharing it because it's really nice being able to share an unbiased perspective on the film, and I appreciate what he had to say about it! I hope you enjoy the review too, whether you've seen the film already or not. Hopefully there will be more to come!

-Christina

#StrictlyIndie Film Views: "The Sacrament"

Whether you’re a fan of Ti West’s previous work or not, his most recent film, The Sacrament, demands its viewers’ attention. The pace at which West let’s the mystery unfold allows for great tension and suspense in what is probably his most chilling and polished film yet.

The Sacrament follows three friends who are all apart of a multimedia company called VICE. When Sam (AJ Bowen) finds out that his fellow photographer’s sister has joined a community outside of the states to better herself from her drug addiction, he immediately wants to investigate its origin. He also brings along his cameraman, played by yet another indie filmmaker/actor: Joe Swanberg. From the moment the three get off the helicopter, there’s a clear sense that “Eden Parish” is not what they thought it was. The so called paradise is guarded like an internment camp. There’s only one way in and one way out. The three are greeted by Patrick’s sister, Caroline (Amy Seimetz), who ensures them that the men with guns are not a fair representation of what they’re about to witness. From there on, each scene is a nail-biter, skillfully emphasized by Tyler Bates’ original score.

The found footage sub-genre of horror filmmaking has made its way cozily into my heart over the past few years. Ti West is no newcomer when it comes to the genre, having directed segments in anthology films like V/H/S and The ABC’s of Death. Interestingly enough, this film reminded me of Timo Tjahanto and Gareth Evans’ segment from V/H/S 2 called “Safe Haven.” Timo actually explains how he wanted to try doing a film about the Jamestown Massacre in an article from Entertainment Weekly, but that’s neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is, Ti West grabbed at the opportunity to portray this deranged vision of a powerful man’s utopia and did a damn horrifying job.

The Sacrament is now screening at select theaters and is also available to rent on iTunes.

Review by Ryan Kramer