Terror on the WardThe British Horror Studio puts the alligator clamps on the neck bolts of the Amicus tradition of 70s anthology horror and gives it twenty thousand volts of electricity bringing it back to life. This isn’t just a pastiche full of winks and nods this is an original Amicus production. In true Amicus tradition three strangers meet up in a dark spooky basement drawn there by a mysterious man, in this case Human Centipede 2’s Laurence R Harvey, which nothing personal I see him in a dark dungeon I will sprout claws and dig my way out like a mole, to face their sins. The cast is fantastic, they could have easily given knowing performances but they all commit to giving it their all, the biggest standout is Megan Tremethick who gives an amazing performance as a nurse with a secret. The movie has a great look, and amazing use of color in the scenes to give more mood. There is a rockabilly moment that comes towards the end that got a big laugh out of me. It was great way to lighten the mood for a moment. The music is good, dramatic and spooky full of 70s thrills and chills of the haunted house vibes. What really impressed me the most was the incredibly use of sets and props. The movie is very small budget, I know I helped fund it in my small way, and they made a vintage movie on that budget is extremely impressive. The movie’s limited budget provides for limited sets in one location but they make the absolute most out of them. They craft an entire movie out of a handful of sets. I really liked that each the stories takes place in the same hospital, a hospital that after all of these goings on is due for a serious audit. I love that creativity in the face of limitations and this movie really does a great job with it. All the tales are scary medical tales, from mad med students, to chilly patients, to cures for depression all with a great vintage feel of mad science to them. It is great to see so much made with so little. It is a movie that makes up for limited resources with putting their heart and soul, another story that could easily go into this anthology, into making an amazing Amicus production. Here is to more of these amazing Amicus anthologies in the future. I would love to see what more than they can make with it.Horrors of 2025 - 224
