That’s a Wrap, screening at FrightFest, lacks any real story, resulting in a slasher movie that should have wrapped long before the credits eventually roll.
Picture the scene: You are at the wrap party of a new low-budget horror flick you starred in when someone dressed as the movie’s killer begins slashing through the party guests.
That’s the simple premise of Marcel Walz’s latest horror, That’s a Wrap, written by Joe Knetter. But while the premise may sound enthralling, the film is, sadly, anything but. Walz’s giallo-inspired slasher has fleeting moments of brilliance, from the gory, tongue-in-cheek deaths of several characters to its vivid colour palette. But for all the highlights, That’s a Wrap lacks any real story, resulting in a slasher movie that should have wrapped long before the credits eventually roll.
The wrap party is crammed full of stereotypical characters who hold little backstory or interest, from the sleazy director (Robert Donavan) and his frustrated wife, Lily (Monique Parent), to the arrogant Jamie (Adam Bucci), the token gay man Troy (Brandon Patricio) and the feisty final girl Harper (Sarah French).
Meanwhile, Stoney (Steve J Owens) lives up to his name, while Molly’s sole purpose is to get randomly naked just before she is wickedly bumped off in the shower. There are, of course, others, too, but honestly, they are so insignificant they are hardly worth writing about. This lack of character development, coupled with a series of lazy, tired clichés, leaves us with little care or interest in each cast member’s fate as they are viciously and gruesomely dispatched.
Undoubtedly, elements of That’s a Wrap will satisfy slasher fans, especially those who love Walz’s previous work. Its tongue-in-cheek exploration of the Hollywood machine is equally admirable, as are the practical effects and colourful cinematography.
Walz clearly has fun with its meta-slasher roots, paying homage to Scream, Psycho and American Horror Story. But for all its creative energy, That’s a Wrap quickly falls off the lighting gantry and never recovers. Lacking any story or emotional connection, I would have gladly killed each character myself if it sped up the long-overdue end credits.
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