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Use of Budget
$3,500 for a 22 minute short seems a tad bit high, especially considering that so much of it ($1,200) was spent on costuming and makeup. For future projects, it might be a good idea to take advantage of after Halloween sales when the seasonal stores are desperate to get rid of their merchandise, and in some cities chain stores like Halloween Express have opened up retail shops that are open year-round and usually offer discounts on costuming. There are always Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, which also tend to stock used costumes and décor in the weeks leading up to Halloween. And, when all else fails, a microfilmmaker often just needs to D.I.Y. A little spray paint and duct tape will go a long way, trust me!
For brand new filmmakers, a first film often serves as a somewhat expensive lesson in how not to make a movie. But, on the upside, one usually discovers hidden talents and a renewed passion for the movie industry (or major credit card debt and a severe case of cynicism if you’ve tried to follow the Kevin Smith approach to filmmaking). And judging from the fact that this film has already won some awards at amateur film festivals, it seems to be a good investment so far.
Lasting Appeal
Combining two different myths into one fan film seems rather difficult, yet these two stories seem to intertwine quite well. Fans of either might get upset at the combination, but fans of both might appreciate a new twist. Given enough positive feedback, there might even be a longer film in the works--though a larger budget and a cast and crew with more experience would be advisable. (And of course, the actual copyright owners of both franchises would have to sign off on it.)
However, the story makes very little sense to anyone who isn’t familiar with either of these movies, and consequently the film doesn’t stand on its own. It has some good elements, and is quite impressive for a first attempt by non-filmmakers but, especially if this film going to be seen by an audience not familiar with the genre, it would be a good idea to summarize the plot right away just to make it easier to understand.
Overall Comment
Coming from people with zero filmmaking experience, Hellraiser: Prophecy is a very impressive final product. The concept of combining two popular movies is interesting, and I think both plots lend themselves to this combination. This film will probably find appreciation among fans of the horror genre, particularly of the Hellraiser and Prophecy stories, although those non-familiar with it may have difficulty connecting with it. However, there might actually be a future for these greenhorns in the area of filmmaking, and I would encourage them all to develop these talents.
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Content |
7.8 |
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Visual
Look |
7.4 |
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Use
of Audio |
7.4 |
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Use
of Budget |
7.0 |
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Lasting
Appeal |
7.0 |
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Overall
Score |
7.3
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The
author of half a dozen screen plays, two novels, and a proficient
camera-woman in her own right, Monika
DeLeeuw-Taylor is Microfilmmaker's lead writing analyst and
one of our top film reviewers. When she's not writing a critique for
Microfilmmaker, she's writing screenplays for Viking Productions.
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