I'm kind of torn on where The Barn truly scores- went with an average of a 7, can see it one point higher or lower by lovers of "heart & soul indie horror," but, don't have much argument with those being a bit more disappointed.
To get a few clarifications out of the way: one, I'm NOT a lover of films that believe their love for a genre outweighs polishing and whose reach is further than their grasp. Why? In MOST cases, the filmmakers' exuberance often wanes as they realize what they envisioned simply isn't coming across in their dailies due to their limited means. It often comes across harshly on-screen and their reliance on passion keeping viewers invested falls apart. Sadly, this happens in 90% of the indie films I'm told to check out.
Secondly, as background, I was very much alive, well, aware, and invested in pop culture in the 80s, where, outside of the prelude, this film takes place.
Both of these are taken into consideration for this review.
I'm extremely happy to report that, in regards to number one, The Barn never loses its "I'm excited to be bringing this story to life!" Sensation- not just from the director, but from the actors on-screen. You can argue that there's varying degrees of talent among those telling the story, whether in front or behind the camera, but the enthusiasm by all makes up for many; not all, but most, of The Barn's technical shortcomings.
The inclusion of a couple special guest appearances will most certainly be welcome, especially that of Linnea Quigley, who's given an extended cameo and is still stunning as someone who consumed anything with her name on a VHS box as a hormone-driven teen. Just wonderful to see her on-screen again, and one can hope she returns in an extended, even starring role if the sequel comes to fruition. Her inclusion here is, if Trivia be believed, is based largely on seeing the preview and feeling that palpable enthusiasm emanating from it. Heck, perhaps they can convince her to revisit her graveyard dance from ROTLD set in the pumpkin patch for the sequel? 16 year old, and even pushing 50 year old me can dream.
With all the appreciation I had as a viewer for being handed a film in which entertainment, not profit, was front and center, there are some things that threatened, or occasionally succeeded in, removing the suspension of disbelief SO necessary to a horror film, but amazingly, none was centered around the monsters or behaviors of the characters.
Primarily, (and again, referencing my preamble, specifically the second point,) the 1989 setting seems more like both just typing on the screen with how little reference is made, and made somehow worse when a reference is actually made.
This is perhaps the biggest (and really, only,) example of The Barn reaching for something it might not have been able to grab hold of.
There's no real feel that it's taking place at the sunset of the 80s. Whether via the setpieces, the lingo, dressings of people or locations, it just seems haphazard or less enthusiastic about picking 1989 as its era. Sure, one guy wears a Walkman, and every once in a great while, as if someone behind the camera suddenly remembered the film was set in the 80s, would have an actor spit out an 80s euphamism... "Quick, remind the audience we're in the 80s! Use "grody to the max!"" But, even those are far and few between. It seems largely a wasted opportunity and more an excuse as to why there's no cell phones than any important piece to the story.
Outside of the wasted chance at making the 80s actually relevant here and more than a date flash on the screen, I had only one other instance where it felt a bit "off," and my apologies to the adult actor if I'm mistaken, but when we encounter the grown-up survivor from 1959, he seems much more aged than he should be 30 years later. It was actually a bit of a surprise once that realization hit.
Still, in the scheme of an indie film, made on a low budget, that lost its FX guy, had to reshoot those scenes, then had its financing pulled, had actors move and then return on their dime, unpaid, to finish a project based in love for the film, there was so much that could have kept this film from being finished or being put out as the mess it very well could have been with all that went wrong during production, it's an impressive feat born from heart, soul, passion, enthusiasm, and in all likelihood, no shortage of blood, sweat and tears. It's worth your hour and a half to see what can be done when everyone involved believes in what they're making. It's a film that a viewer would love to see bring success to all and, much like a Sam Raimi, perhaps even be remade with a larger, proper budget (make no mistake, even with the limited budget here, most FX are impressive and better than is usually expected,) and tightened up, much as Evil Dead 2 did with the original ED.
As is, it seems a sequel to The Barn is being planned, and I, for one, am anxiously awaiting it to see where the story goes from here.
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