New Fears Eve – Movie Review (3/5)

NEW FEARS EVE is a new Holiday Slasher Comedy, but one you can easily watch all year. Made in an unapologetic B-movie style full of love for the genre. So many pop culture references, not least via character names, which means you need to pay attention. This is a great example that something can be greater than the sum of its parts. Read our New Fears Eve movie review here!

NEW FEARS EVE is a Slasher Comedy that plays out around New Year’s Eve (hence the title pun). Fortunately, it’s more about an office party than anything holiday-related, so while it’s obvious to watch around New Year’s, you can easily watch it at any time during the year. I was a little nervous it would be full of Christmas stuff as well, but they’ve avoided doing this.

What makes this slasher-comedy work so well is the whole style and vibe. This is not a brilliant movie in its own right, but nothing you see is a coincidence. When something stupid happens, or a character makes a dumb choice, it is clearly because they actively play into a slasher trope. I loved that about this Slasher Comedy, and the delicious B-movie style and practical effects should please many genre fans.

I would give this 2½ out of 5, if we did half ratings, but due to its homage to the genre, I’ll gladly pull it up to 3.

Continue reading our New Fears Eve movie review below. Find it on Screambox or VOD now.

The power of friendship – and practical effects

With New Fears Eve, it’s all about the office party thrown at Hooper Industries. Working there are the three best friends: Leslie, Brian, and Moses. This year, they approach December 31st and the New Year’s party with dread. To be fair, this workplace does everything wrong, and the CEO is an idiot. Then again, so are the people working there, and no one seems to know what they actually make or sell.

This year, the night will be marred by the fact that a serial killer is on the loose. He is known as The Doctor, and wears the infamous plague mask and red gloves. It’s a good look, I’ll give the killer that much. Also, he is very, umm, creative when it comes to his method of murder. Usually, bones and skulls will be crushed – or maybe eyes popped out.

Again, the practical effects and wild blood spatter make New Fears Eve an actual treat for slasher fans. All while the comedy is constantly at the forefront as well.

A very efficient Slasher Comedy

When you find yourself laughing out loud at a brutal and bloody death scene, a Slasher Comedy is working. I laughed many times during New Fears Eve, and even managed to jump in my seat a few times.

While this is a slasher comedy, it is also a survival story. Of course, this is usually the case with a slasher. The killer walks around and always catches up to the people running away from the masked killer. This is also used a lot in New Fears Eve.

Again, you must accept that it’s a very conscious decision. If you don’t, you’ll just find yourself getting annoyed at the characters. It’s the classic “Running up the stairs, when you should be heading out the front door”-situation. However, this is a horror-comedy, so it is very intentional to play into this trope and utilize it for comedic purposes.

Watch New Fears Eve on Screambox or VOD

Eric Huskisson and P.J. Starks are co-directors on this feature film, which is made from a screenplay written by P.J. Starks. Among the producers, we find Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick, who also has a key supporting role in the movie. He works in HR at Hooper Industries, which is pretty much an impossible task.

New Fears Eve comes from Cineverse/Bloody Disgusting, and it’s probably one of the productions from them that I’ve enjoyed the most. I can always get behind indie and low-budget productions that lean into what they are. This is unapologetic in its approach to the slasher-comedy genre, which means they can get away with just about anything. And they do!

MORE FROM CINEVERSE…

Another seasonal horror movie and perhaps my favorite from Cineverse >

In the cast, you’ll get to enjoy Lily-Claire Harvey, Matthew Tichenor, and Turner Vaughn. Also in key roles are Dave Sheridan (Doofy in Scary Movie), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), and Hannah Fierman (V/H/S/, St. Agatha). You should also prepare yourself for some rather flat performances along the way. Something you can only really get away with in a B-movie genre film like this.

If you’re in the mood for a wild Slasher-Comedy with lots of practical effects and an obvious love of the genre, then New Fears Eve is a must-watch. And at the same time, avoid this one, unless you’re a huge fan of the video game already.

NEW FEARS EVE is now streaming on SCREAMBOX, Fandango At Home, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Roku, and Plex.

Details

Directors: Eric Huskisson, P.J. Starks
Writer: P.J. Starks
Stars: Lily-Claire Harvey, Matthew Tichenor, Turner Vaughn, Dave Sheridan, Felissa Rose, Hannah Fierman, Jeffrey Reddick