Gorehounds Unite!

GRACE revolves around Madeline Matheson (Liza Weil of GILMORE GIRLS and STIR OF ECHOES), an eight months pregnant woman who is determined to deliver her unborn child, Grace, naturally. When an accident leaves Grace dead inside her, Madeline insists on carrying the baby to term. Weeks later, when Madeline delivers naturally, the child miraculously returns to life..

Directed by award-winning writer/director Paul Solet and photographed by award-winning cinematographer Laurence Avenet-Bradley, GRACE is a short horror film shot on 35mm. Also starring Brian Austin (90210) Green, the film hit the festival circuit shortly after its premiere.

 The first thing I will point out is that GRACE is unlike anything you've ever seen...... This film is why I continue to be a horror fan, no matter how bad the genre gets there will always be a film that comes around that just manages to take you by storm and give you new hope for cinema.

 The film starts out with a young couple driving down the highway late at night arguing about the pregnancy. Unfortunatly they end up in a car crash and from there the movie goes completely balls out.

 When I first popped the film in I noticed the name Brian Austin Green come across the titles and thought to myself "Isnt that the kid who played the wannabe on 90210.....This is gonna be horrible!"....I never liked the show and found his character extremely annoying on the TV show and just figured him for a shitty actor. He's anything but, he has actually turned out to be quite a good actor and I look forward to seeing him in some more stuff in the near future! The films real star though is Liza Weil who starred in GILMORE GIRLS and STIR OF ECHOES. This woman is an amazing actress and gave all of herself for this role.....And when I say all of herself I mean physically,menatlly and emotionally. I was amazed by her performance in this short film.

 The story which I wont reveal here is a womans worst nightmare and is shown just as horrific as I imagine it would be. After the accident the young woman is informed that her child is dead and will be stillborn, she carries the child to term anyways and the baby comes back to life once it's delivered.

 This film delivers on all fronts as nothing is held back......its as chilling and unnerving as it sounds. I was glued to my seat from beginning to end with my jaw hanging to the floor. The first thing that will really catch your eye is the beautiful film look which is near impossible to replicate. It was filmed completely on 35mmm and it really shows.

 The acting is beyond top notch as Liza Weil really exceeds all expectations as to what an actress can accomplish on screen....Her performance really pulled me into the story and you feel real empathy for her character......the melding of great writing and even better acting makes you feel every emotion the character goes through. As hard as it is to go through that as a viewer just imagine what the actress has to go through.

 The locations are perfect for the feel of the movie and are light perfectly as well. You can see everyone involved in this production really cared not only about the story but about each other as the chemistry really show on screen as well.

 This brings me to the effects......They are all very well done and convincing. Im unsure if its the effects that are so shocking or if its the subject matter combined with the effects that make them so disturbing. They didnt skimp on the blood and gore either, GRACE is a balls to the wall bloodbath with heart.

 I think everyone who views this film will come away with something different. The director is a master at his craft and I can assure you Paul Solet will be a household name to all horror fans as well as fans of good cinema within the next year. Every shot was beautiful but yet subtle as not to pull you out of the film. Every frame fit together smoothly with the next and there was no rough cuts to the next shot....It just flowed off the screen from scene to scene. The film actually pulls off a very creepy feeling throughout the film and one scene inparticular is almost unbearable to watch.

When I first popped the DVD in I figured I was just going to be reviewing a short horror film......As it turns out this is really a stand alone first act for a feature they are planning on filming. Thank god too because I want more, It ended too soon for me and I dont get to see enough movies that are this original and well done. When this comes to theaters I demand you go see it as this type of film isnt seen very much anymore on the big screen.

                                                                                                I guess what I am trying to get across is that this film is a horror fans wet dream. You always hear horror fans asking for original, exciting and scary films instead of the PG-13 sequels to some unoriginal franchise film thats been done a million times better, Well heres that film weve all been asking for....and now its up to you to support it. If this film doesnt get a theatrical release it will be a crime...

  Grace is an original non-stop thrill ride that you wont soon forget. Its an incredibly creepy film that gets into your head and stays there...you wont shake the feeling for quite sometime. Grace is the New Breed of horror we've all been waiting for.

 Paul Solet is the real Master of Horror and will be spoken of in the same breath as that of John Carpenter and Peter Jackson. In fact if I had to describe GRACE  it would be that its a mix of the best films from the librarys of both John Carpenter and  Peter Jacksons films.

 Go support these guys at their Myspace page:  http://www.myspace.com/gracehorror 

RATING:

             5 out of 5 Severed Heads!