Hide and Creep (2004) Movie Review
Written By: JCL
Edited By: Grave Review Staff
Film Information
Directors: Chuck Hartsell and Chance Shirley
Producers: Chuck Hartsell, Chance Shirley and Stacey Shirley
Writer: Chance Shirley
Date Released: September 23, 2004
Cast:
Chuck Hartsell as Chuck
Chris Hartsell as Chris
Kyle Holman as Keith
Michael Shelton as Michael / Lee
Eric McGinty as Ned
Barry Austin as Reverend Smith
Melissa Bush as Barbara
Rating = 2/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
The movie opens to a scene in Thorsby’s local video rental shop. It’s late at night and Chuck (played by one of the directors, Chuck Hartsell), the lone shop employee notices that all of their zombie movies are out. He then remembers that it must be that “news of zombies going around town” he’s been hearing of lately. True enough, the following morning, a zombie breaks inside the video rental shop. Chuck wrestles with the zombie, killing it by hurling a VHS-player unto its head. The camera then focuses on the VHS player. The impact of the throw makes the player eject a VHS tape that Chuck has been looking for the night before: Night of the Living Dead.
A hilarious conversation then follows as Chuck rings his mother to seek advice how best to get rid of blood stains in a shirt as he thinks he may have killed a zombie.
The entire movie then follows different characters in the town of Thorsby as they all try to protect themselves: the local pastor, Reverend Smith (played by Barry Austin) who inadvertently discovers that his wife has been unfaithful; Thorsby Gun Club’s head Keith (played by Kyle Holman) and his posse; Keith’s sister Barbara (Melissa Bush), who is also the oblivious secretary of the deputy / sheriff’s office.
The first half of the movie is segmented into the different scenarios the above individuals are in. And because it’s a small town, they all (or the remaining of them that’s still alive) later on inevitably meet and team up to take on the zombies.
Gore Factor
Those looking for gore may not be fully satiated with this movie. There is violence and bits of blood but not the full-on, chunky, flesh and blood gore that one normally gets in a zombie film.
There is frontal nudity early on in the movie, and in the latter part, the prelude to a nude lesbian zombie scene.
The Grave Review
Hide and Creep’s first 5 minutes already sets the tone of the kind of ride one is in: a satirical zombie comedy movie. With an estimated budget of $20,000, Hide and Creep is unashamedly low-budget and does not pretend to be otherwise. But what it lacks in HD effects and gore, it certainly makes up for in smart, witty dialogues and quips.
The film is created in Alabama by an all-Alabamian cast and crew, and zombie movie enthusiasts will certainly appreciate the many references to classic zombie films.
It is well-worth watching Hide and Creep twice as there are many references and innuendos in the scenes and dialogue that only on second viewing will make you realize how the screenplay is indeed witty and well thought-of. It’s a prime example of how a good script alone can carry a low production, which is rare even in genres outside of horror.
There isn’t much to be said about the plot either, as it is quite simple: townsfolk killing zombies. Yet towards the end of the movie, an unexpected revelation is revealed: these Thorsby zombies are afraid of the dark.
Because of the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Hide and Creep (2004) two graves out of five graves.
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