“ALL HALLOWS' EVE: INFERNO” Sets Anthology Horror Ablaze (REVIEW)
The average horror movie is great. It has a plot that goes through the run time with the occasional scares. While this is enjoyable, it can make you wonder what variety of horror is out there. So, why settle for just one scare when you can enjoy a feast of nightmares with horror anthologies? Instead of relying on a single story that might lose momentum, horror anthologies hit you with a series of twisted tales. Each brief, sharp, and often unexpected terrifying tale gives you insight into scares from a group of different directors, looking to put a chill into your viewing experience. If one segment doesn’t get under your skin, the next one surely will, as the anticipation keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering when the next scare will happen. Horror anthologies also are quite the perfect viewing experience for those with a need to mix things up. They do so by offering bite-sized scares that still leave a lasting chill, without the need to invest in an hour and a half of terror.
We here at Macabre Daily lit our Jack o Lanterns, dimmed the lights, and put on a new anthology of terror with “All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno”. The movie comes from executive producer Steve Barton, who is behind producing the hit indie horror franchise “Terrifier”. The synopsis for this movie is as follows:
“From an executive producer of ‘Terrifier’ comes ‘All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno’ a new installment of the franchise that first introduced the world to Damien Leone's Art the Clown and the short film ‘Terrifier’. When a woman survives a horrific crash that leaves her paralyzed, her nightmare is far from over. Transported to an infernal hospital, she becomes the victim of a sadistic doctor's torturous experiments forcing her to enter a haunted dimension filled with monsters and mayhem. Showcasing the work of multiple acclaimed horror film writers and directors, ‘All Hallows Eve: Inferno’ brings bone-crushing suspense, gut-wrenching gore, and enough scares to haunt your dreams for eternity. Featuring Heather Langenkamp (‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’) and Larry Cedar (‘Constantine’, ‘Battlestar Galactica’), ‘All Hallows Eve: Inferno’ is perfect to add to your Halloween binge-watch. It’s Time to fear, Halloween is here.”
“All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno” is the latest entry in the ever-expanding anthology horror universe, known for chilling stories and monstrous killers. As a follow-up to the 2023 hit “All Hallows’ Eve Trickster”, this film takes a stab at rekindling the eerie, frightening atmosphere of its predecessor while adding a new layer of hellish intrigue and scares. The film, once again, revolves around multiple interconnected tales of terror, but this time it trades the iconic, clown-faced Art the Clown for a fiery dive into an infernal realm of demonic horror. This sequel delivers a fair share of creepy moments and gruesome set pieces, all in the name of the originality of horror anthologies.
The framework of “All Hallows Eve: Inferno” starts with a wrap-around that keeps you well entertained starting with a simple car wreck, turned into a hellish hospital environment that gets more intense after each passing segment. In this foundation wrap-around, there are demon-like monsters, a tortured soul, and a sense of dread wondering what will happen to the prisoned survivor of the car wreck as they are bound to a gurney with their face covered. The bulk of the movie revolves around 5 short stories that are aimed to terrify and entertain. The segments are as follows:
“In Lucidity”
The first segment in the “All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno” anthology was written/directed by Kays Al-Atrakchi. With “In Lucidity” we are treated to a story that feels like a hybrid of “Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors” mixed with the sci-fi elements of a movie involving a company wanting to use technology to breach the world between reality and dreams. The main character in this segment is haunted by a monster inhabiting his dreams. He seeks the help of a company to help control his dreams. Things start to go in his favor when the machine helps give him the power to fight back, but his luck quickly turns. It is original but has elements of things we all enjoy within the common troupes of horror movies throughout the decades, such as jump scares, a dark atmosphere, and a chilling narrative. It even has a nice twist at the end with the monster choosing its next victim.
“Hammurabi”
The second segment we are entertained by is written by Bethany Orr and Directed by Patrick Kennelly. It is a unique story that uses an element in a horror movie that we here at Macabre Daily haven’t seen in a horror movie before, using a sign language interpreter via FaceTime to deliver a sinister message from the main character. This revenge horror anthology story finds us with a woman in a desert with a man in her trunk, and we soon find out through the deep and horrifying monologue is a victim of the man who is responsible for her being deaf. You get to see a lot of depth with this one as you see the story unfolding not with the two in the desert, but also with the interpretation on the other side of the camera. It will keep you on the edge of your seat but give you a flicker of dark humor with its witty narrative of the interpreter and her reaction afterward.
“Bakemono”
The third segment is provided to us by the excellent writing/directing of Sumire Takamatsu & Jorge Lucas. This might be the favorite among us who viewed it here at Macabre Daily. It has a classic Japanese horror legend feel with the story of warding off evil spirits with soybeans and the consequences of not protecting your home from dark spirits. It also takes the element of an average Japanese family with an all too curious child, who refuses to follow the guidance of her parents to keep them all safe. Not only does this story have a creepy atmosphere, dark cinematography, and a haunting tale that will truly scare you, but it also has some great effects of how the demon is meant to look and an ending that will surprise the hell out of you.
“After Taste”
The fourth segment is an odd but entertaining one. This was written/directed by Christianne Cruz and follows a chef with a family curse that builds well into the the story and its narrative. This is accomplished by the burned storyline, jump scares from unexpected places, and the kind of horror short you don’t see very often, being as it is focused on food and the food industry. There is something about this particular horror short that will leave you wanting more from the main character’s story and the filmmakers behind it.
“Trial 22”
The final segment is written by Henry Metcalf & John Ferrer. It is also directed by John Ferrer. This one is very fast-paced and doesn’t hesitate to jump into the intensity of terror. It follows a group of people involved in a deadly game trying to get a pass key to the next room that is around the neck of a monster who seems to only be able to hear them. This feels like a mix of “Resident Evil” and “The Escape Room” movies. There isn’t that bad of gore or blood either. One particularly unique kill involves using the bone from the arm of a dead participant as a sharp weapon. It led to a very crazy moment in this short and one that is going to be very enjoyable to watch.
Ultimately, “All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno” is a mixed bag of horror genres and unique tales. Some stories might feel a little rushed, especially the opening vignette which barely has time to establish its characters before thrusting them into the dangers of the eerie hospital. It goes without saying though that it is worth watching for fans of anthology horror and those who enjoy a heavy dose of supernatural gore, but also who like the originality that some horror anthologies can bring with the multitude of directors lending their creativity to terrify the audience.
“All Hallows’ Eve: Inferno” is now available on Tubi and Fandango. Stay tuned for Macabre Daily for in-depth horror movie reviews and more.
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