'THE DARK TAPES': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

An indie anthology horror flick, which interlocks four different tales of creatures, demons, ghosts and other things in the paranormal world. The film runs 98 minutes long, and it was made on a budget of just $65,000. It also features an ensemble cast (of mostly unknown actors) lead by Cortney Palm. First time feature filmmakers Michael McQuown and Vincent J. Guastini directed and co-produced the flick. McQuown also wrote the script (he previously co-wrote 2005's 'THE PERFECT MAN') and he also served as the film's editor and cinematographer as well. I found it to be a mostly well made, and impressive little indie horror flick; highlighted by Cortney Palm's performance.

The movie contains four different chapters, each telling a different supernatural tale. One revolves around a couple experiencing paranormal activities in the house they recently moved in to. Another story tells the tale of two lesbian lovers, that make a living performing sexual activities online (for paying customers),and one begins blacking out and not remembering certain strange experiences. Another story involves a woman who's raped at a party, and she then becomes obsessed with stopping persistent unwanted paranormal intruders. A fourth story is intercut between the others, and it revolves around three paranormal investigators, that take their investigations into uncharted new dangerous territory.

The movie is a little too slow-paced, drawn-out, and a tad too over complicated in places. For a film made on just a $65,000 budget though, I think it's mostly impressive. I love indie horror flicks like this, especially well made anthologies. This one delivers some nice effects, some cool dark imagery, and some pretty clever twists; it just sometimes takes a little too long to get to them. The acting, with the exception of Palm, is pretty amateurish though. The film probably won't become a cult classic of any kind, but I think it's still definitely worth the rental price. I bought it on Amazon Video for $9.99, and I don't regret it.

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THE DARK TAPES is yet another found footage horror effort which mixes in science fiction elements for an anthology tape. The format is immediately recognisable from the likes of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY while there's some social media activity to get it bang up to date. Sadly, the lack of money means that ghosts and demons are discussed rather than shown, and it's all very static and talky when it should be involving and thrilling.

PLOT SPOILER REVIEW FOR TREKKIES This is a found footage tape that appears to be hyped.The film cares nothing about chronology and the second segment of ghost hunters with a twist I found to be the most entertaining, and have no idea how it tied into the rest of the film. Some people do experimentation and discover there are Scalosians here on Earth, Scalosians who have fun with Amanda "roofie" Courtney (Brittany Underwood) while she sleeps and does mental torture on her which she shares with us in a long boring ill acted monologue. Camera footage was mostly bad angles and bad lighting. I have never shot anything that amateur and I can't even spell camerea. The acting wasn't there. Special effects include electric interference on cameras, a floating playing card, a voice distorter and a rubber mask...or yes people standing still. The neck thing was good.

Guide: No sex or nudity. No swearing that I recall. Some girls on Cam who pretend like they are going to do something. From now on I am only watching cam girls who don't speak English.

Winner of numerous indie/horror awards and third place at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival. This didn't appeal to me like it did to others. Seemed slow and choppy