Writer-directors Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing felt that doing a found-footage horror movie would be the best way for them to break into Hollywood. As their The Gallows hits theaters, that instinct is proved right. The filmmakers’ first foray onto the big screen is not the most original of stories, but it kind of grabs us from the beginning. If only it could have maintained that grasp.
As has been the formula with other found-footage horror films that score, filmmakers cast a group of previously unknown actors — Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos and Cassidy Gifford — as our quartet of souls who are soon to be terrorized once our movie truly gets going.
The story takes place in a small-town Nebraska high school where the drama club is launching a production of The Gallows. It’s a gutsy move since two decades prior the school production of said play ended in tragedy when the lead actor stepped into the noose at the penultimate moment of the play and died in the most horrific of ways in front of a live audience.
This modern production is seeking to pay tribute to the past by launching The Gallows anew. The only problem is its lead actor, Reese, is more jock than thespian and only took on the role because of his attraction to the lead actress, Pfeifer. As the premiere date approaches, he realizes he is terrible and is desperate to find a way to not embarrass himself. His buddies Cassidy and Ryan convince him to break into the school theater late one night and trash the set. Problem solved!
Only problem, they’re found out by Pfeifer and before Reese and her can argue about what she’s found, weird happenings start occurring in the theater and at the school in general. For one, they’re locked in and can’t seem to find a way out. Someone, or something, is haunting them, and one by one — if they’re not careful — they could finish the night hanging from the gallows.
Our issue with The Gallows is that the promise that it can grab its audience with scares is lost by the final act. There’s a twist towards the conclusion and an ending that is not just out of left field, it does not even seem plausible. In fact, it’s quite maddening. There are too many factual issues to go into and for those who want to see the film, we don’t want to spoil it. But let’s just say… prepare to be disappointed.
We can see some promise in Cluff and Lofing, but the standout of this picture actually comes from the most surprising of places. Gifford shows us a well of emotions that makes her unlikable cheerleader much more than a stereotype and takes her to a place full of fear and pure horror.
Grade: C-