Review - ROT: Reunion of Terror

ROT: Reunion of Terror

Directed (and edited) by: Michael A. Hoffman
Written By: Michael A. Hoffman, Meghan Jones, Bill Cassinelli (Story)
Based on an idea by: Justin Powell
Starring: Christian Anderson, Monique Barajas, Hallie Bird, L.J. Green, Nori Jill Phillips, Mark Carducci, and John Shumski


Out of any genre of film you can think of none is more attempted than the horror genre. From kids filming in their backyard to big shot hollywood types. Horror is the genre everyone wants a piece of. So it's no wonder that the independent horror genre is exploding like never before. Unfortunately, most of it is crap, not for a lack of trying though.

It's endearing to know that so many people care so much for one of my favorite genres. A genre I myself hope to be a part of one day. Unfortunately, it's easy to get down and out when so much of what is put out there is just not any good. It's entirely too common. I can't say for sure that its entirely the fault of the filmmakers. I'm sure they're trying to put out a decent movie. It just seems too often that the end result is poor. This is especially the case for indie horror.

It all comes down to the money in my opinion. You can't afford the big names, the best effects, the best writers. In some cases that's the kiss of death for an indie horror flick. This is a curse that regularly afflicts the gay horror genre. A good number of people making those flicks just don't seem to care what they put out.

Now if you take that same set of issues and put it in the hands of someone who cares for the genre and the project at hand you'll get a totally different outcome. Despite a lack of a large budget, despite setbacks and disasters, a good film is possible if the people involved truly care for the project.

Fortunately, Reunion of Terror is one such project and is one the better indie horror offerings I've seen in a while.


The story revolves around a group of old high school friends who are invited to a remote cabin in the woods for a reunion of sorts. They meet up and a restaurant and rehash old wounds a bit before finally embarking out to the cabin in the middle of nowhere. One of the friends shows up with a young hitchhiker he picked up on the way. When they arrive at the trail head to the cabin they meet a creepy Game Warden who warns them to follow the park rules, which are his rules, and the gang heads out to the cabin.

After that things go pretty badly. I don't plan on telling you a single thing.

The key to a good horror movie is not expecting what is going to happen. Sure we know a killer is around but we don't know when or where he is going to strike. One of the interesting things in this film is that you really never know when to brace for the attack.

Another plus about this film is the chemistry between the cast. They really felt like old friends reconnecting after a long separation to me. There was a slight awkwardness mixed with the familiarity of friends. The group really meshed well and made for a great ensemble.

Everyone did a pretty decent job acting wise. Sure there are some cringy moments but it certainly doesn't detract from the viewing and they're few and far between. I will point out Christian Anderson, who plays Jimmy. He gave a great performance. His comfort and charm really stole the show for me. I do hope we see him again soon.


The script was well written and delivered an interesting story. There isn't much new brought to the table but the time honored slasher tradition is upheld. They gave us a suspenseful, nerve wracking flick.

Michael A. Hoffman did a stellar job directing. The shots are beautiful and he captured every scene perfectly. As an editor he did a nice job as well. I think there was some overuse of the slow motion shots though. It's a nice effect to use occasionally, but best in moderation.

The music was another highlight. Really atmospheric and it fit the movie perfectly. Music is an extremely important part of a horror flick. Imagine Halloween or Nightmare on Elm Street without their themes? Completely different movies.

Ok, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the ending of this movie. I can honestly say when all is said and done, that...well...buy the movie and see for yourself. It is quite a shocker. I'm not sure we've ever seen an ending quite like this one.


Horror is a tricky animal to tame. It has some of the harshest critics of any genre, and despite the hordes and hordes of people who want to make horror flicks, not many can say they did it well. The folks behind ROT certainly can.

For more information on ROT: Reunion of Terror check out the following sites:

MySpace
Official Site

You should see Reunion of Terror available in stores and online this summer.