It’s always fascinating to me how filmmakers are able to come up with new and original ideas in 2019. There have been hundreds of thousands of movies created, so isn’t it nearly impossible to come up with a story that hasn’t been done before? It seems one director in particular didn’t get that memo because I can assure you that Steve Rudzinski’s CarousHELL is as original as they come!
The Plot
Duke is a carousel unicorn that hates his job. After finally being pushed too far by yet another annoying child riding on his back in endless circles, Duke has had enough. He now realizes his true calling — to go on a killing spree to get revenge on the one who pushed him too far.
My Thoughts
While I tend to feel like there is an appropriate mood for every film out there, I wasn’t sure how to react upon receiving my copy of CarousHELL. How the hell would I ever be in the mood that is required to watch a film about a carnival ride that comes to life? I was able to look past this seemingly impossible feat and threw this sucker on.
CarousHELL is one of the most surprisingly entertaining films I’ve watched all year. This horror comedy had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions and not once did I regret giving this one its fair shot.
Filled with a unique group of characters, CarousHELL features a cast of mixed talent levels. Like most low-budget flicks, there are of course a few performances that were lacking. That seemed to be the exception and not the rule in this 70 minute film, however.
There are multiple characters that I absolutely loved here. As soon as the character of Preston was introduced, I knew I was in for a real treat. Played by Chris Proud, this secret “My Tiny Uni” (the film’s version of “My Little Pony”) is the real life of the party. He has tons of beads draped around his neck and this horndog goofball is trading those beads for flashes of boobs. Proud, who sadly only has this one film under his belt according to IMDb, has impeccable line delivery and is a constant source of comedic relief throughout.
Coming in at a close second as my favorite character is the friendly neighborhood pizza man, Joe. The interactions between Joe and Preston are some of my favorite laugh-out-loud moments in indie horror and I could have watched another 30 minutes of these guys together. I was even more impressed after learning that Joe was played by none other than the co-writer and director, himself, Steve Rudzinski.
The Verdict
CarousHELL knows exactly what it is and never takes itself too seriously. Rudzinski and his crew know they have a silly idea here, but they play it off so perfectly that it never becomes annoying or downright aggravating.
This 2016 film is funny as hell and features some really impressive practical effects. Special effects coordinator, Cody Ruch, and his team did a tremendous job with the myriad of kills shown throughout the film’s duration. From kicking off people’s faces to goring Jock-O the clown through the neck, I was blown away by the love and care put into each death.
If you want to sit back and relax with a good old horror comedy, look no further than CarousHELL. This is a perfect movie to watch with a group of friends that just want to have a good laugh and watch people get murdered by a bloodthirsty carousel unicorn!
CarousHELL is available now on DVD from Wild Eye Releasing, so be sure to grab yourself a copy today!
I give this one 4 in-the-stable bronicorns out of 5.
I enjoyed this one a lot. It’s a great addition to the carnival themed horror films.