Director
David Benullo
Cast
Jamie Alexander………Liz Chambers
Brian McNamara………Sheriff
Chloe Moretz………Sabrina
Nick Chunlund………Jonas Hathaway
Hudeson Leick………Sarah
Ethan Phillips………Preacher
DVD Release Date: October 9, 2007
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 83 Minutes
The Movie
In the late 1800s, a sick and twisted preacher known as Jonas Hathaway believed in his way of ruling things in the town of Hope, and his way only. Those who stood by his side were to always follow the way and live life as he saw fit. Anyone who stood up and protested against Hathaway’s methods had sacks put over their faces and they were strung up on crosses in his cornfields. This was to scare away the crows that always tried to eat his crops which grew on his “hallowed ground.”
Liz Chambers is a young pretty girl who seems to be on the run from something, but it isn’t clear quite what. She is just set on driving out and getting as far away from her problems as possible. That is until another problem arises, but this time with her car making her stop off in the town of Hope for the evening to have it repaired. The townspeople seem friendly even though they have a bit of a staring problem. Liz meets a woman named Sarah who also sees the creepiness of Hope.
Sarah is a reporter doing a story on the town and she fills Liz in on all the happenings and history of Hathaway and his followers. It seems his home still stands today and that he is buried in among his crops. Apparently the people from the nearby town of Liberty heard what was going on and killed Hathaway; stringing him up just like he did all his victims. Sarah invites Liz along to his old farm so she can do a report and get some pictures. They aren’t there long though before a scarecrow comes to life and kills Sarah; posting her up just like Hathaway used to.
Liz happens to escape and makes it back into town looking for help in any way she can. Soon though she realizes that her car breaking down in the town of Hope may have been more then just coincidence; it may have been fate. The townspeople congregate together and let Liz know that the book shows she is the “chosen one” and has been sent to them to give birth to a child. That child will house the spirit of Hathaway so that he may live again. Liz isn’t quite ready though to become the mother of a sadistic killer.
Hallowed Ground really started out as a film that was going to cause a lot of hatred and big sighs from me, but they just never came. Ok, well maybe a few did but not nearly as many as expected. The film obviously suffers the wrath of most cheesy direct-to-video horror films, but somehow stayed interesting. I think when all was said and done; it was the story that was most intriguing. And how that is with all the plot holes also boggles the mind.
There are so many things left unanswered in the film that you’ll find yourself in constant bewilderment throughout, but you’re going to keep watching too. I don’t get how Liz ended up in Hope by chance on the one night the townspeople needed her there. Not quite sure why that particular night is the only time Hathaway could come back. Why was the first cop killed by Scarecrow Hathaway when everyone in the town of Hope was in on it? As hard as these things would seem to get past, among others, Hallowed Ground kept me watching and I really wish it had more of a budget, a longer running time, and a theatrical release.
The Video
The film is shown in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and looked alright. There are quick moments at night when things really can’t be seen all that well because they are just too dark, but other then that there are no real complaints.
The Audio
The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and actually comes through nicely. Use of the back speakers to hear villagers all throughout the cornfields or crows cawing around you made for a nice creepy feel at times.
Special Features
Trailer
Trailers – 1408, Frostbitten, Final Draft, and Black Sheep
The Inside Pulse
It’s a shame that some films with decent ideas, acting that isn’t so bad, and somehow manages to hold my interest is so damn bad. The CGI isn’t so hot, but as I’ve said before, budget was obviously limited. The plot is so full of holes and random stupidity that you won’t get through ten minutes without becoming annoyed. Yet you won’t stop watching either and that is at least good for a rental during a horror crap-a-thon sometime this month as Halloween draws near. Not worth buying because the only special feature included are some trailers and you won’t ever watch the film a second time. I have a favor to ask though if anyone does rent it. See if you can explain to me how a stranger like Liz can somehow stumble across a hidden basement in the fields twice in six hours, but the followers of Hathaway didn’t even know it was there. That was perhaps my biggest boggle, but only one of many.
