Film Review “The Black Waters of Echo’s Pond”

Director: Gabriel Bologna
Writer: Gabriel Bologna, Sean Clark
Starring: Robert Patrick, James Duval, Arcadiy Golubovich, Electra Avellan, Elise Avellan, Danielle Harris, and Nick Mennell
Studio: Seven Arts Pictures
Rating: R

Our Score: 3 out of 4 stars

The film starts off in the 1920′s on a remote island with a group of explorers who discover ancient directions to make a board game (Let me guess you just said “Huh?”). Upon its creation all havoc breaks out and everyone one the island is killed. Flash forward to present day, nine friends decide to vacation on the same remote island. They end up finding this board game hidden in a stately Victorian home, owned by the cranky islander, Pete (Robert Patrick). When the group plays the game, they unleash an ancient evil. Rage, jealousy, greed, hatred, and lust boil all take over the group one by one throughout the night. The friends start to turn on each other and things do not end well.

Ok so I have been tracking this movie for years now as early as October 2007, when I met James Duval and Sean Clark at a convention. I had decent expectations from the low-budget independent horror movie. I think that most of the expectations were met more or less. One problem I had was that the film didn’t really give much detail to how or why this “board game” was made and the significance on why the demon that was unleashed. It was really just they play this game and every goes crazy. The film is a well done homage to old horror and the film is not the scariest film every made but it also doesn’t try to be. Harry Manfredini’s score really delivers and helps the film along. The gore was definitely there and top notch. The acting is decent but don’t forget we are talking about a low-budget horror film not Shakespeare. All and all, not the best horror movie I have seen but most definitely not even close to the worse. If you are looking for a fun, ass kicking, no cares, tribute to old horror definitely give this film a watch!