One thing that’s true about being a physical media advocate is we will constantly choose a physical copy of a film over the streaming counterpart. This isn’t an article about digital over physical, so take a deep breath. What if there was a horror movie that was about this exact topic? Director/ Writer Joseph Scrimshaw asked the same question.
Breakdown
In Dead Media, Maggie (Sammi-Jack Martincak) and her friends Brenda (Jessica Fenton) and Daniel (Antonio Teodoro) spend time watching movies on their streaming platform of choice. While scrolling through the endless digital pages of movies Maggie comes across a film her Uncle Heppy Sloke (Sam Landman) told her about when she was a child. A horror film from 1999 called Night of the Lurchers.
Right as they are about to begin the film. Maggie decides to text her uncle to let him know they found the movie on digital and they are going to watch it. In his excitement, he informs Maggie that he recently found a copy of the film on DVD and that is the only way to watch the film. He then proceeds to invite himself over to watch it. Both Brenda and Daniel are concerned that Heppy keeps Maggie down. He was the only family member there for her and she feels she owes him.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR “DEAD MEDIA” BELOW
While the group watches the film, all the fun was had. But soon after the film ends, Heppy insists that they watch the special features and he starts to drag the mood down. Brenda has set Maggie up with an important interview the next morning and Maggie keeps down playing it. As her friends call it a night and leave Maggie and Uncle Heppy alone. Heppy teases Maggie about the film’s secret. Blowing off the fact she should call it night, she begs to know. Heppy informs her that the film is cursed. A crew member was injured during filming, other crew members died of mysterious causes and the film’s director flat out disappears without a trace. To add to the mystery, he claims there is an Easter Egg that if solved will uncover the truth of the curse.
OUR REVIEW
Dead Media is one of those low budget horror comedies that most will write off, and they shouldn’t. This film was so much fun and it was genuinely a laugh out loud blast to watch. It’s a perfect nod to a time when DVD special features were a selling point, the idea of a disc having Easter Eggs and secrets waiting for someone to uncover them.
The film has tons of heart and all the actors do a great job in the film. The message of having more trust in yourself and to take risks and believe in yourself is well done. The film within the film is also interesting and well executed. I don’t want to run the risk of spoiling anything. But let’s just say, this becomes a movie night that no one will forget anytime soon.
The death scenes and gore are also fun and over the top. I found myself grinning as much as wincing during certain scenes. Overall, Dead Media is a love letter to the DVD age and old school practical effect heavy horror films. Here’s hoping they release a physical version of the film with Night of the Lurchers in the special features.
I give Dead Media 3.5 DVD’s out 5
Dead Media was released and distributed by Antenna Releasing and is out now on VOD.
Visit Antenna Releasing for more information
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