Hell's Half Acre (2023) User Reviews

Fun Twists Great Location and Picture Quality

[icocleric · 6/10 · 18 December 2023]

Really great location, it's really interesting from an urbex perspective, and I liked the fact you could actually see what was going on. They didn't have it too dark, and the picture quality is really nice. It wasn't found footage either, even though the set up was for a YouTube channel.

I'd still describe the film as a "B-Movie" but it's on the better end of the quality. I did think the ending was weaker compared to the nice fun twists they had during the film. Although there is an extra scene after some of the credits which is really fun. The overall plot and set up was fun.

The acting is mixed, most of the actors are decent enough, but some of them are weaker and bring down the quality a little.

It was better than expected, and I thought it was a fun watch.

Urban Xers

[nogodnomasters · 3/10 · 3 May 2023]

Marcus (Quinn Nehr) has a web site called Urban Xers, a rather lame site were he goes into empty and abandoned building with a camera in hopes of finding something of historical interest. It is bombing and the bills are overdue. His girlfriend and final girl Jesse (Brynn Beveridge) suggests they do a paranormal show to peak interest. Marcus does not believe in ghosts or playing games with the audience. He leads of crew of 5 into an abandoned prison said to be haunted by two serial killer/cannibals (Anthony Pape/Gary Soumar). Like always they also run into someone else filming at the same location. Except they are really looking for ghosts. The group becomes spooked and want to leave, but are having difficulty.

The acting was not good. Quinn Nehr, the lead was the worst in the lot. Ariana Tomasek, the director's daughter did not have a good part. Clearly they did not know how to end the film so they dragged it out with a ridiculous "touching" scene at the end.

Guide: No sex or nudity. Don't recall any swearing.

Unoriginal, rip-off of Grave Encounters

[zacharyrrogers · 1/10 · 20 February 2024]

This movie has an almost identical story to that of Grave Encounters (2011). It replaces the psychiatric hospital, with a prison. The ghost hunter crew, replaced by "urban explorers." They even added a scene where they were looped in the building, entering and exeting through the same rooms. This was a short scene and added nothing to the film. It's as if the writer had just finished watching Grave Encounters prior to "writing" this film. There was almost no character development throughout the movie. The monsters resembled some kind of zombie, making odd noises and smelling the air for their victims. I often enjoy low budget films when there is a unique story, but this was terrible. Producers of Grave Encounters might actually have a case for copyright lawsuit in this case. Definitely would not recommend.

Good location

[BandSAboutMovies · 2/10 · 11 May 2023]

Urban exploring YouTube content creator Marcus (Quinn Nehr) loves going into abandoned buildings and sharing the history of each lost place before looking around and sharing it with his users. The problem is, he's losing his views because there are a ton of people who do the exact same videos as him. He's sunk all his money into making videos, so he's starting to grow disenchanted. Then, his girlfriend Jessie (Bryn Beveridge) comes up with a big idea: they should explore the Rockland Heights Prison, a frightening spot that's haunted by not one, but two serial killers.

Before you can say, "I bet one of the YouTube guys gets shocked in the electric chair," you know that Marcus' disbelief in the unknown is going to get tested by cannibalistic criminal phantom Martin Clay (Anthony Pape) and the spook who was once Eddie Richards (Gary Soumar), a killing machine who delighted in painting the walls red with the blood of his victims.

The film that emerges is slow going at first, as a variety of YouTube want-to-be superstars converge, whether they're explorers or ghost hunters, and find themselves as prey. But the end, where the gore starts to spray the screen? Why couldn't we have gotten to that particular firework factory sooner?

James Patrick Tomasek directed, wrote and produced this. With a bigger budget and ideas, I think he could really make something. As for this, he got great use out of his locations and seems to find his footing by the end.

Fine enough for what it is

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 7/10 · 12 May 2023]

Trying to find new content for their channel, an urban explorer webshow decides to host a show at a run-down abandoned prison to make their biggest premiere to date and save them from financial ruin, but when they realize the prison's ghostly inhabitants are true must try to get out of the building alive.

Overall, this was a pretty decent effort with some likable qualities. Among the better features here is the workable setup providing this with a solid premise to go along with. The webshow group dedicated to working together to provide solid and serviceable content that doesn't devolve into cheap scare tactics to boost ratings gives them a likable touch that's employed quite well against the rival group trying to utilize the spectacle of the situation for their advantage as they search for next site to work with leading them to the selected prison. That includes the fantastic backstory of the location and the history of the prisoners there that manage to offer up the kind of setting for the hauntings to come. Those hauntings manage to be rather enjoyable as well by providing this one with just as much to like as well. The location where it all takes place is highly effective and quite chilling, not just with the backstory in mind but also the highly obvious state of disuse and disrepair it's fallen into with crumbled infrastructure and a generally dangerous atmosphere that plays the perfect host for the action to come. That includes the shocking appearances of ghostly inmates wandering around the hallways, floating through abandoned cells, appearing as tormented watchers, or succumbing to various traps that provide chilling supernatural encounters even before the red herring reveals about the second team using the location. These bring about some decent gore for the cheesy kills alongside some decent stalking scenes in the final chase that gives everything some frenetic finale that gives the film quite a lot to like. This one does have some issues that hold it down. One of the major drawbacks is a highly irritating storyline that makes everyone in the group out to be colossal morons simply to keep them in danger even though they're well aware of the situation from the start. After encountering the second group of ghost hunters in the building, everything that happens is immediately written off as being their fault which makes no sense. The leader automatically downplays any ideas or suggestions since they didn't come from him and tends to write off everyone for having the audacity to suggest something is amiss since he can't explain it. These factors tend to make him quite unlikable and is a trait that runs through the others who are just as brain-dead here making for a truly problematic effort. Combined with the cheesy low-budget approach of this one which could be somewhat off-putting for some, these are what bring this down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Fantastic Location

[haraldhiebl · 8/10 · 17 March 2022]

The prison location from this very well made independent production is awesome and shows a very dark atmosphere which helps the movie to bring exciting and scary moments. The story has surprises and a tricky end.