Omar Ali Khan's "Hell's Ground" is essentially a fan film using familiar horror genre staples audiences are accustomed to, such as taking the dreaded short cut which is a detour into terror, cell phones that don't work, a van which will soon run out of gas, a family of psychos who chop up passersby using their meat to supply demand, and polluted water supply that contaminates the citizens turning those who drink it into gut-munching zombies. And, your final girl is virtuous, forgiving, kind-hearted, and soft-spoken. I thought the film is a Pakistani reworking of THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE with a little NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD to stir the pot a little. Admittedly, like a lot of horror buffs, I was drawn to the fact that this seems to be Pakistan's "first gore film", after seeing a trailer preview on another movie's DVD. It seems Khan is heavily reliant on a fish-eye lens distorting the frame, creating a disorienting atmosphere for the cast of city kids whose parents have no idea that they have snuck out to go to a concert...a trait in horror that always works, the fear that you are out there in an unfamiliar territory and your loved ones don't know where you are. Certainly the image of a flail wielding madman in a burqa(..his demented eye peering through a cut away hole as he swings it with a ferocity ready to plant it's spikes into the skull of a frightened, fleeing victim)isn't easy to forget and the idea that you are on the receiving end of a head crushing increases the suspense of the situation..the flail is pretty much a terrifying tool replacing Leatherface's chainsaw, the burqa in the same vein as the human-skin or hockey mask.
The Pakistani characters aren't too different than an American group being stalked by predators, you have Roxy(Rubya Chaundhry), a rich, opinionated snob, or OJ(Osman Khalid Butt), the pothead horror geek. Rooshanie Ejaz is the virginal innocent, Ayesha, who will obviously withstand the horrors until the end. Haider Raza is Simon, a male mirror equivalent to Ayesha, a smart kid from a poor family with wealthy friends(..his dad is a "poop sweeper" for the rich with a disdain for his son who hangs around the crowd he doesn't belong to). OJ is bitten by an infected local and slowly succumbs over time to the plague sweeping across the land. The group encounter zombies which attempt to get in their van and a religious nut who temporarily "bums a ride" promising to guide them to their destination. Lots of enthusiastic set-pieces, particularly the chase scenes where the burqa psycho follows close behind those running for their lives, and we get an old-fashioned flesh-eating session which should bring a grin to the faces of Italian zombie fans. Khan injects a healthy dose of blood splatter when weapons hit the desired targets of our maniac, and the pace is full throttle, with a camera that moves throughout, rarely staying still not allowing the viewer to settle down at almost any point. I'm guessing, judging by how spirited the whole film feels, that this was a dream come true for director Khan. Nothing at all content-wise is original, but the setting is unique, and Khan is aiming to please the target audience. I think zombie fans will feel a little disappointed that Khan shifts focus from the plague sweeping across the people to the predator chasing the lost sheep in the wilderness, but it seems that Khan wanted to get in as much as possible in regards to the films that influenced him the most..homages here and there. My favorite image might just be the opening attack where the moon becomes engulfed in blood.
The Pakistani characters aren't too different than an American group being stalked by predators, you have Roxy(Rubya Chaundhry), a rich, opinionated snob, or OJ(Osman Khalid Butt), the pothead horror geek. Rooshanie Ejaz is the virginal innocent, Ayesha, who will obviously withstand the horrors until the end. Haider Raza is Simon, a male mirror equivalent to Ayesha, a smart kid from a poor family with wealthy friends(..his dad is a "poop sweeper" for the rich with a disdain for his son who hangs around the crowd he doesn't belong to). OJ is bitten by an infected local and slowly succumbs over time to the plague sweeping across the land. The group encounter zombies which attempt to get in their van and a religious nut who temporarily "bums a ride" promising to guide them to their destination. Lots of enthusiastic set-pieces, particularly the chase scenes where the burqa psycho follows close behind those running for their lives, and we get an old-fashioned flesh-eating session which should bring a grin to the faces of Italian zombie fans. Khan injects a healthy dose of blood splatter when weapons hit the desired targets of our maniac, and the pace is full throttle, with a camera that moves throughout, rarely staying still not allowing the viewer to settle down at almost any point. I'm guessing, judging by how spirited the whole film feels, that this was a dream come true for director Khan. Nothing at all content-wise is original, but the setting is unique, and Khan is aiming to please the target audience. I think zombie fans will feel a little disappointed that Khan shifts focus from the plague sweeping across the people to the predator chasing the lost sheep in the wilderness, but it seems that Khan wanted to get in as much as possible in regards to the films that influenced him the most..homages here and there. My favorite image might just be the opening attack where the moon becomes engulfed in blood.