After the success of films like The Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, we were bombarded with found footage films. Scream hit the scene and suddenly slashers were all the rage again. Now, after films like VHS picking up where the greats (Tales from the Crypt, Creepshow, etc) left off years ago, anthologies are making a comeback. Now, I'm not a big fan of anthologies, especially when they're combined together to form a "story", simply because it becomes hard to stitch them all together where they all connect properly.
Patient Seven centers around Dr. Marcus (Michael Ironside), a renowned psychiatrist who has selected 6 severe mentally ill and dangerous patients from the Spring Valley Mental Hospital to interview as part of research for his new book. As Dr. Marcus interviews each patient, one by one the horrors they have committed begin to unfold. However, Dr. Marcus soon learns that there is one patient who ties them all together.
So I guess if you're going to do an anthology, this is an appropriate way to do it. Each segment is told by a different patient and while drastically different, still connect to the story surrounding them. The individual shorts are pretty phenomenal and range from horror to dark comedy. While none are particularly scary, they effects are well done and the acting is pretty spot on; but I would expect nothing less from such a star studded cast. Ironside has been a favorite of mine since he sent me away from the drive in scared and crying after watching him make someone's head explode in Scanners. His sideways grin and little giggle gives me chills every time. Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) stars in the segment The Body" and is no less than brilliant.
Any filmmaker that can tell a complete story in less than fifteen minutes will always get kudos from me and I give a lot of kudos to each of one involved here. It would be difficult for me to choose a favorite from the bunch as they are all equally stunning in production, effects and acting. The story that pulls them all together, however, is a bit predictable and the twist at the end isn't anything we haven't seen before but that doesn't take anything away from the overall film. It's enjoyable and I would recommend it to other horror fans but suggest that they don't go into it looking for anything groundbreaking. Give it a watch then come back and let me know what you think!
On the heels of its October 11th release, Terror Films is sharing two more clips (“Get the Noose” and “I Wouldn’t Mess with this One Doc”) from their highly anticipated Horror Anthology, PATIENT SEVEN. The film will be available on: YouTube, Vimeo On Demand, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Xbox Live, VUDU, Sony PlayStation and iTunes. On iTunes it is available here for pre-orders
As well, PATIENT SEVEN is receiving a limited release from Redbox and it will also be released on Amazon Prime, the 24-Hour Movie Channel on Roku and Cable VOD. Release dates on those platforms will be announced at a later date.
The film features a wrap-around story written by Barry Jay Stitch (The Chosen) and directed by genre veteran Danny Draven (Reel Evil). It intertwines 7 award winning, short films by filmmakers from around the globe that include: Nicholas Peterson, Paul Davis, Ómar Örn Hauksson, Dean Hewison, Erlingur Thoroddsen, Joel Morgan, Johannes Persson and Rasmus Wassberg. The cast includes Amy Smart (Just Friends), Alfie Allen (“Game of Thrones”), and Doug Jones (Crimson Peak), among others.
The wrap-around stars genre favorite, Michael Ironside (Total Recall) as Dr. Marcus, a renowned psychiatrist. His character has selected 6 severely mentally ill and dangerous patients from the Spring Valley Mental Hospital to interview as part of research for his new book. As Dr. Marcus interviews each patient, one by one the horrors they have committed begin to unfold. However, Dr. Marcus soon learns that there is one patient that has been kept from him by the hospital’s administrator - Dr. Vincent played by Jack Plotnick ( Reno 911!: Miami).
“Get the Noose” Clip from a segment directed by Rasmus Wassberg:
