The Craving
Directed by Sean Dillon
Brain Damage Films


First impressions certainly aren't always right and in the case of The Craving I was ready to write it off as another cliche horror film until the plot started moving in interesting places. It's not often that a horror movie throws me for a loop but the ideas at play in the plot of this film truly are unique. Granted you have to go through some cliched elements to get there but it is definitely worth the wait.

Despite the fact that the title might make you think vampires, this is a monster movie at heart. The film opens with a many fixing holes in a rundown shack out in the middle of the desert. It is quite clear that the man has more than a few screws loose and is sick in some way. Leaving the shack he drives back into civilization and quickly steals a dog that is left unattended. The dog is used as bait and we catch our first glance of the monster as the man watches the carnage from the safety of the shack.

Here's where the cliche elements come into play. We are introduced to a group of teenagers driving to Burning Man. Horror films have always revolved around teenagers in trouble but the whole group of teens going to a music festival has really been run into the ground. After stopping at a gas station, the group is accused of stealing the owners dog when in fact it was the same disheveled man we met at the beginning of the film that stole the dog.

When the group decides to take a short cut they end up becoming lost and low and behold they end up at the rundown shack. Thinking that they can ask for directions the group drives near the shack only to be greeted with shotgun blasts that cause them to crash. Once they regain their composure they enter the shack and after a confrontation the drifter ends up dead.

The rest of the film is about the group of teens attempting to find help and little do they know they are being stalked by a monster. Little by little it is revealed that the monster has a scent that is addicting and now the title of the film makes a bit more sense. Almost like a drug the smell causes people to "feed" the monster and see how close they can get to the smell. It's a really unique twist and it makes the cliche elements of the story much easier to digest.

The Craving is a welcome addition to the monster movie genre and the fact that the monster has a top notch suit and makeup makes all the difference in the world. Although the film does lull a bit in the middle, this is a well made and great looking film that fans of creature features will want to check out.

Visit Brain Damage Films!