Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer — Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer(DVD)
From last year, Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer is a blend of friends-in-a-cabin horror and stalking witch terror. The film features passable low-budget acting, moments of unsettlement/ unease, and some decent( if slightly overused) floating in the air effects. On the less positive side, it’s edited somewhat erratically- with new characters dropping in & out, seemingly randomly. Here from Cleopatra Entertainment is a region-free DVD of the film.
Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer is written, directed and stars Atlanta, Georgia-based Brian Krainson. This is his first feature, though he made a short beforehand, 2021's Ancient Envy, as well as an episode of Westwood. He’s most known for his stunt work- with forty-nine credits to his name, taking in the likes of Renfield, Laws of Men, and Get Her.
The film presents us with a fairly typical selection of twentysomething characters, with the tattooed and muscular Brad( Krainson) leading the group. We are introduced to most of the group on a sun-soaked pool day, but pretty soon they are loading up with kegs & drugs, heading out into the woods.
As the film unfolds, we get introduced to a few other characters- some have relevance, and some don’t. Some of the characters are from the past, though it’s sometimes difficult to realise this, as the sudden shifting cuts, and not very well-realised period dress/ set-up. Oh, & Krainson, plays some of these period characters to add to the confusion.
Basically, what’s attacking the group is a witch who was hanged in the woods a hundred or so years back. Her appearance shifts between effective enough( in a sub-Ring manner), and the unintentionally amusing, with her head popping up at different angles.
The cast, for low-budget fare, is largely good to passable-worthy mentions, been Jeremy London, who plays the disconcerting/ creepy cabin owner/ grave keeper. And Jennifer Barlow, who plays one of the twentysomething, who reminded me of a blond/ more fiery version of Scarlett Johansson.
Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer is just fine, but it often treads/follows the cliches of both the friends-in-a-cabin horror and stalking witch terror genres. Though there are a few original twists & turns present, with some effective creepy/ tense moments along the way
On the extras side, we get just over seven minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and a just under four-minute interview with Krainson. A slideshow and trailer.
In finishing Mr Krainson, is most certainly a multi-talented guy, but I think with Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer, he’s taken on too much. So as a result, it’s a decidedly mixed affair, with not enough cinematic clarity/ sense, and too many unneeded characters. If you enjoy witch-focused woodland set films- give it a go.