‘The Day After Halloween’ Review – Outrageously Diabolical

Synopsis: Two lifelong buddies forced to unravel the circumstances that led to a corpse in their bathtub in the wake of a Halloween party!

You can never be too careful with who you lend your trust. Humans more than any other creature are dangerously unpredictable and capable of the worst actions at any given moment. It’s never more true than when we enter the horrorsphere. You can let your guard down, just make sure to keep your monster kit ready.

“Yeah, okay fat John McClane.”

Let the Halloween debauchery begin. Directed by Chad Ostrom, The Day After Halloween is outrageously diabolical. It’s where friendships and relationships are put to the test, murder is in the air, infidelity has taken place, and a mystery is afoot. While the dark comedy flirts with some elements of horror, the majority of the story tends to live more in the realm of a comedic murder mystery. With a tone that resembles that of I Hope They Sever Beer in Hell, the characters are distinct, the dialogue is witty, and the twist is unexpected.

Beginning within a Halloween party hangover haze in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania, something doesn’t quite feel right and it’s not long before we find out why. When a body is found in the tub by the sarcastic and seemingly nihilistic curmudgeon, Addison, there’s an immediate suspicion about his actions. As his best friend and owner of the house, Hayes awakes and proceeds to urinate pre-terror, it is discovered that the corpse is someone who the duo knows very well. From there, the story dances between past and present as the pair weigh their options of either figuring out the cause of death or disposing of the body. As the film flashes back, it is accompanied by a countdown clock that isn’t quite clear on its purpose, but it eventually makes sense. From double-digit hours to two years prior, the glimpses of the past showcase their friendship dynamic as well as when the duo is at times a trio with the addition of Hayes’ girlfriend on Halloween night. As the day of November 1st unfolds, truths are revealed, crazy plans are made, and something monstrous comes to life. Some costumes should be taken seriously. The Day After Halloween is fun and creative, however, its writing is where it shines brightest. This is a film that is increasingly better on a second watch. After knowing what took place, you’re able to pick up on all the subtleties that you overlook the first go-round. This film is an entertaining little morsel as we begin to head into the spooky season. I laughed, I sleuthed, I rewatched, and I laughed some more. Its rewatchability is medium.

Pacing & Pop

The film’s pacing feels a bit chaotic as it bounces around back and forth between the past and present. The jumping around somewhat catches you off guard and takes a few scenes to get the hang of fully. What popped for me was the twist. It was completely unexpected. What I thought was a clever joke turned out to be a fun surprise.

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Danny Schluck, Brandon DeLany, Aimee Fogelman, Victoria Meade

While the acting may not be Oscar-worthy, there are some moments that really punch up the film. The chemistry between Hayes (Brando DeLany) and Addison (Danny Schluck) feels incredibly organic, like friends that have known each other for way too long. Their characters are effortlessly relatable, we all know people that are just like them. Hayes plays it safe and can’t get out of his own way. He tends to let life happen to him rather than the other way around. And Addison seems very intelligent and has a disdain for much of what life has to offer.

The Day After Halloween will be available on digital platforms on August 23. And as always, stay safe and enjoy.

Rated: NR

Runtime: 1h 23m

Director: Chad Ostrom

Writer: Danny Schluck

Producers: Jennifer Askew, Lloyd Jay Fass, Danny Schluck, Chad Ostrom

Director of Photography: Jennifer Askew

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2VzHVwFR6c]