Like ABCs of Death and V/H/S, horror anthology Minutes After Midnight is a collection of very short stories, each directed by a different film-maker. Usually, these kind of projects are a very mixed bag, equal parts good and bad, but this is a rare example where the good easily outweighs the bad.
Sid Zanforlin's Never Tear Us Apart is a fun opener, with two guys running into backwoods cannibals who give chase. The twist isn't anything special, but gore-hounds will definitely enjoy the very bloody death scene in which one of the friends has his head chopped in half by an axe. It's certainly a great way to grab the audience's attention.
Awake (Dir: Francisco Sonic Kim) is the only tale to disappoint me, on account of the fact that I didn't really understand it. A kid with a head wound acts weird, stomps an injured dog to death, and then gets a little bitey. Strange.
Crazy for You (Dir: James Moran) sees serial killer Charlie (Arthur Darvill) willing to give up killing for Jessica, the love of his life. The only problem is that Jessica is obsessed by polka dots, which just happens to be the trigger for Charlie's uncontrollable urges. Still, where there's a will there's a way. This story actually has a happy ending, albeit a very twisted one.
The Mill at Calder's End hasn't got the most coherent of narratives, but director Kevin McTurk's visuals are great, the whole story told with the use of very realistic rod puppets (one of which looks just like Peter Cushing). Refreshingly different.
Roid Rage (Dir: Ryan Lightbourn) is easily the silliest (and crudest) entry: it tells the tale of Sammy (Zach Canfield),whose exposure to radiation has resulted in a toothy mutant asshole that feeds on unwary human victims. Lots of cheesy gore, both CGI and practical, go to make this one a hoot.
Christian Rivers' Feeder has the strongest story: a struggling musician moves into a rundown house where a supernatural force provides him with inspiration-at a price! Well acted and confidently directed, this is a great segment, even if I did guess the twist before it happened.
Timothy (Dir: Marc Martínez Jordán) is a twisted treat. A young boy is hoping to watch his favourite TV programme, Timothy's Show, but his babysitter wants him asleep. While he is laying in bed, the boy is visited by the star of Timothy's show, a giant rabbit, who takes a sledgehammer and bashes the babysitter's head in. No prizes for guessing that the rabbit is all in the boy's imagination, but it's demented fun while it lasts.
Ghost Train (Dir: Lee Cronin) easily has the best setting, a creepy ghost train ride in an abandoned funfair. Wonderful production design, great cinematography and smart storytelling make this one well worth a watch, even if the ending isn't as strong as one might hope.
The film ends with a really enjoyable, over-the-top segment: Horrific, directed by Robert Boocheck. A man finds himself face to face with a ravenous beast that he believes is a chupacabra. A battle between the two ensues, the man trashing his home in the process. But where there's one monster...
With nine stories, eight of which I would heartily recommend, there is something here for every type of horror fan.
7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for the hilarious 'whack a mole' moment in Horrific.
Minutes Past Midnight
2016
Horror / Thriller
Plot summary
As midnight falls, all manner of terror invades the Earth. Demons, cannibals, killers, ghosts and monsters swarm the world in these tales of the supernatural, the fantastic, and the just plain horrific. Featuring nine stories hand-picked through Rue Morgue and Unstable Ground's long-running genre film festival Little Terrors, prepare to see some of the finest the world of fright has to offer. Be warned: these tales are not for the faint of heart.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Movie Reviews
Something for every type of horror fan.
It's difficult to find love if you are a serial killer.
These are 9 short features. Most of the features have a slight twist, some irony, or comedy within the film...a serial killer who kills because he hates people who wear polka-dots. He lives in a striped room. "The Mill At Calder's End" included what looks like claymation which was not that great. "Timothy" was in Spanish with English subtitles, a TV bunny that comes to life. My favorite was a rather crude piece called "Roid Rage" and one of the longest features. The ending, which satirizes vigilante films was great. I considered "Awake" along with "Timothy" the weak links in this chain of features. If you liked the old Creepshows, give this one a try.
Guide: F-word, sex, blurred TV nudity.
Nifty horror anthology
Nine tales of terror.
"Never Tear Us Apart" - Two guys stumble across a cannibal couple. Cute and funny with a dandy twist.
"Awake" - Unsettling story of a little boy who goes lethally insane.
"Crazy for You" - Wickedly funny yarn in which a serial killer falls for a gal.
"The Mill at Calder's End" - Funky puppets (one looks just like Peter Cushing!),a spot-on spooky mood, and cult horror queen Barbara Steele as a vengeful ghost all add up to a total winner.
"Roid Rage" - Super crude and gross hoot.
"Feeder" - Superior vignette about a frustrated guitarist who makes a Faustian pact with some kind of demon. This neat story comes complete with a deliciously nasty twist at the end.
"Timothy" - A twisted treat. Love the adorable killer bunny.
"Ghost Train" - Strong tale about the sins of the past catching up with two guys in the present. Fantastic creepy atmosphere and a highly satisfying grim conclusion.
"Horrific" - A man gets attacked by a ferocious monster in his home. Pretty goofy, but nonetheless still amusing and enjoyable.