I Scream on the Beach! (2020)

Directors: Alexander Churchyard and Michael Holiday

Writers: Alexander Churchyard and Michael Holiday

Starring: Hannah Paterson, Dani Thompson, Reis Daniel, Jamie Evans, Lloyd Kaufman

In the small seaside town of Mellow Coast, Emily (Hannah Paterson) is trying to discover what has happened to her father, but as she searches for answers her friends start getting picked off one-by-one by an unknown killer.

I scream on the Beach! is the debut feature from co-writer/directors Alexander Churchyard and Michael Holiday, who deliver a nostalgic nod to some of the straight to video horror titles of the 80’s. Covering the good, bad and very bad films which you would expect to find on the shelves of the local video store. The film incorporates some familiar traits you would expect with 80’s horror, which is delivered with a clever tongue-in-cheek humour and plenty of blood.

Hannah Patterson leads the film as Emily and produces a more edgy persona compared to the more traditional final girl we have been accustomed to. With a good balance in her performance which moves naturally between the drama of her personal issues and the films more bizarre humour which often overlapped. Thanks to the writing Emily’s character is given the opportunity to really evolve throughout the film, even if it is in a different direction to what you may expect. By the end it leaves you wanting to know more, and it would be interesting to see how events would unfold if the story was explored further.

The film incorporates several characters that you would expect to see in an 80’s horror film, such as the apply named jock Bants (Ross Howard), or the unnerving local with a forewarning message. In this case a disturbing Nun played by Andrea Sandell. In addition to the normal personalities there are some stand out characters who manage to make an impact in the film. Jamie Evans is great as the overly excited horror fanatic Jeromy, whose enthusiasm for horror films makes him standout as much as his ingeniously titled horror themed t-shirts. The most impressive performance with the supporting characters however comes from Reis Daniel who is excellent as the introverted Dave Chapman. I was really drawn into his layered performance and his unnerving persona which makes you both weary and sympathetic for his character.

In keeping with the themes of 80’s horror Dani Thompson is the modern scream queen who has been added to cast, and whilst she does deliver one hell of a scream, she also gives a great performance. Perfectly cast as the spoilt pre-Madonna and wannabe film star Paula Valentine, Dani showcases her natural ability for comedy and seems to embellish playing the self-centred daddy’s girl who is used to getting what she wants. We also get to see another side to Dani’s character with a glimpse of her Hollywood acting career in the fictional film within the film The Decorator. A banned film which gives another nod to the video nasties era.

Anyone not old enough to be familiar with the limitations of VHS, especially an 8^th generation recording will probably question why the quality film looks so poor. Possibly even surprised to find out that the film was deliberately downgraded by being rerecorded through a VHS player several times to give that authentic worn look with distorted tracking. However, for fans of VHS this adds to the films charm and encapsulates the authentic feel that the filmmakers were trying to achieve.

The issues with the quality are not just contained to the visuals, but also the dubbing. In some scenes the voices are so out of sync it is like watching a foreign which has been dubbed into English. Whilst this does create some funny moments with the dialogue, thankfully it does not carry over to the films excellent score which does work perfectly with the film throughout. The brilliantly crafted score adds a layer of tension to the horror scenes, replicating a recognisable 80’s sound which could easily have been pulled from an original feature.

Whilst I Scream follows a familiar pattern for most of the film as a low budget slasher, in the final third of the film it really starts to change following a bizarre dream sequence in which Troma’s – Lloyd Kaufman makes a cameo appearance.  With the films tone gradually shifting so does the cinematography, with more unorthodox camera angles, split screen shots and a striking use of colour which is reminiscent of Dario Argento. It begins to open up the film and showcases their visual abilities as filmmakers, whilst the creative writing leads the film to an unexpected final twist which is sure to divide audiences. Love it or hate it, this is one of the most memorable endings I have seen in a long time and for me taking a chance has really paid off. It’s safe to say that you won’t see it coming and you have to give credit for the originality and taking a chance on what is a risky conclusion.

You don’t need to know your classic horror to appreciate the effort put into the film, but there are several nods throughout which fans of 80’s VHS horror will enjoy. Classic video nasties such as The Evil Dead (1983) and Cannibal Holocaust (1980) in particular are acknowledged in some of the film’s most notable visual scenes.

Whilst elements of the film are deliberately bad, filmmakers Alex and Michael are fully self-aware of what they are trying to achieve and there is a lot more to I Scream on the Beach! than an attempt at just another schlocky parody. It is a labour of love for the filmmakers who look to recreate the lost horrors from shelves of the local video store and includes plenty of Easter eggs which fans will notice on repeat viewings. The comedy is consistently funny throughout and the surprisingly creative kills are delivered with an impressive vintage VHS charm. It is already creating a buzz on the festival circuit amongst horror fans and with the popularity of the film so far, it is clear that I Scream on the Beach! is destined to become a cult classic for the fans of 80’s horror.

Philip Rogers

Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!