Invite over the neighbours, crack open a case of apple pie-flavoured moonshine, and pass around the cheese sticks (muscle relaxant optional), because William Bagley’s Hold the Fort, celebrating its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, has all the ingredients necessary to become a cult classic horror comedy.
Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary) have just escaped the hustle and bustle of city life, moving into a beautiful home in a neighbourhood of peace and tranquillity. However, Jenny isn’t as convinced about the move as the wide-eyed Lucas. She misses the hubbub of the city and finds this peaceful haven somewhat weird, almost cult-like. But ultimately, she’s happy if Lucas is happy.
Every lawn in Gruber Hills is immaculate, every picket fence gleaming white, and to cap it all, the house was a steal! However, Jenny is right, like Wisteria Lane, not everything is as it first appears, and their introduction to the Home Owners Association (HOA) is about to throw a spanner into their plan for a peaceful life in the suburbs. No sooner have Jenny and Lucas arrived than they find themselves invited to a party being thrown by the straight-laced HOA President Jerry Klein (Julian Smith), who appears to be channelling Ron Burgundy. However, on arrival at the HOA lodge for the party, things only get weirder as a banner greets them stating “Welcome to Equinox. Please don’t die!”
William Bagley’s delightfully nutty Hold the Fort is one of those movies where the less said about the monster madness and hilarity that follows, the better. But the delights in store include Kung Fu Zombies, a coven of deadly witches on broomsticks, kamikaze bats and cheese string snacks laced with muscle relaxant! Oh, and there are buckets of blood and some cocaine thrown in for good measure. The result is a 76-minute comedy horror that never loses pace as it joyously bounces from one blood-soaked scene to the next, causing you to spit out the drink you just sipped through a fit of giggles on several occasions.
Absurdly brilliant throughout, Bagley’s comedy horror pays homage to Tibor Takács’ The Gate (1987) and Joe Dante’s The ‘Burbs (1989) through lovingly crafted practical effects and a cutting exploration of the isolationism and the often unspoken community rules that surround life in the suburbs. Gruber Hills is no American dream, as the gates of hell threaten to consume everything and everyone, and here, through all the laughter and gore, Hold the Fort brilliantly explores suburban security, and the irrational beliefs and customs that hide behind the image of perfection many small towns like to project.
With an exemplary supporting cast of non-urbanites from the forthright Ted (Levi Burdick) and his moonshine-loving wife Annette (Michelle I Lamb), to the battle-ready warrior of Gruber Hills McScruffy (Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson), and Smith’s HOA President Jerry Klein, Hold the Fort is a bonkers, brilliant, and bloody rollercoaster of pure unadulterated fun. Need I say more? I don’t think so. So, invite over the neighbours, crack open a case of apple pie-flavoured moonshine, and pass around the cheese sticks (muscle relaxant optional), because Hold the Fort has all the ingredients necessary to become a cult classic horror comedy.
Hold the Fort had its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 16 and will screen again on July 26. It will have its UK Premiere at FrightFest London on Aug 23.
Follow Us