Dark Zone Thirteen Part Two — Dark Zone Thirteen Part Two (VOD/ DVD)
Appearing three years after the first Dark Zone Thirteen here’s Part Two. It’s once again conceived, co-written, part-scored, and co-directed by Oregon’s Joe Sherlock (Odd Noggins, Channel 99, Drifter, etc). The horror/ Sci-fi anthology takes in seven tales, heavy with those classic ‘Sherlock’ tropes- bizarre chatty dialogue and self-referential moments. Tattooed larger ladies taking showers, reappearing cast. Lo-fi-at-points-wacky effects, as well of course a real passion for pulpy horror & sci-fi.
The film can be purchased directly from Joe as either a VOD (how I watched/ reviewed it), or a Ltd edition DVD- more info on the film, stills, its trailer, and of course how to see it can be found here.
Like the first Dark Zone Thirteen we open with a text-based wrap-around story detailing that the film is based on tales from an infamous thirteenth issue of a lost pulp magazine. And it’s said that they couldn’t be released/shown as the issue and the stories were cursed.
Also, as with the first Dark Zone Thirteen- each story runs between ten & twenty minutes, with the whole thing running around the twenty-seven-minute mark.
We open with Something Weird- which is written and directed by John Bowker. This is set late at night- as we see a blond-haired woman sitting in just a T-shirt emailing her friend- writing about how she met this person who scares her to death, and her fear of the unknown. We get some nice creepy synth tones, eerier POVs, and the woman wandering around her apartment- which of course entails having a shower. A good bit of atmosphere built here, and a nice panicking resolve.
Next is 47 To Go which is by Joe Sherlock, and it finds his twenty-something son Connor in the lead role. This is a Sci-fi tale, as a young man is visited by himself from the future. This features neat doubling -up effects, and a fairly darting/ jarring flow- it’s not bad, with a nice quirky twist.
Story three is Crimson Eye Of The Nameless which is by Joe Sherlock - it features Sherlock regular Dale Wilson whose tattooed & larger photo model girlfriend is communing with aliens/ folks from another dimension in red filtered shots. A fair bit of nudity in this one, and the odd spaced-out vibes
Next, we have Suburban Satanic written by Sherlock, and directed by Joseph Voegele. This opens with the bespeckled woman talking to her buddy while unpacking things in her new house- we find out her boyfriend has invited over some of his friends that night, and she is not so keen. They turn up all dressed in black & acting a little strange. A fair bit of nudity on display- it’s ok in its is she mad or not plotting.
Next, we have The Delivery Driver Part One which is co-written by Sherlock, Joseph Voegele, Donna Rooney, and John Bowker- and directed by Sherlock. This is spread over two other parts and is my fav here- as we have some amusing Sherlock dialogue, the delivery driver is nicely quirky played by Voegele, and we get some rather neat twists & turns.
Story six is Peaches And Herbs by Sherlock. Here we get a wacky blend of basement exorcisms, graveyard wonderings, and folks being drugged/ gassed by two people in hazmat suits. It’s Ok I guess, though a little muddled in its unfold- my least favourite story here.
Next, we get The Delivery Driver Part Two, before moving into Cold Air written & directed by Sherlock. It finds a twentysomething woman moving into a new downstairs apartment- upstairs is another Sherlock regular Jackey Neyman Jones, who plays a Doctor who is running all manner of strange equipment which sometimes drips into the apartment below.
This one has neat twists in its tail.
Lastly, we have The Delivery Driver Part Three- with things winding up after closing credits, with a few minutes of behind-the-scene-footage/ bloopers.
In finishing Dark Zone Thirteen Vol 2 is another entertaining enough anthology film from Mr Sherlock- with a fairly even blend of horror & Sci-fi tales. Maybe with a bit more flesh on display this time around.