Reviews

**_Mishmash pseudo-documentary about a red-eyed killer in the Midwest_** Released in the summer of 2021, this is an indie written/directed by comedian Don Tjernagel that only cost $5000, yet is proficiently done and worth watching for its entertaining bits, along with its (surprising) spiritual insights, at least for those interested. It doesn’t convey the narrative in a conventional manner, but opts for combining several different storytelling formats, like interviews, TV news reports, YouTube influencers, paranormal investigators and so forth. This isn’t anything new as Bram Stoker did the same with his 1897 novel “Dracula.” The way it’s put together is impressive and visually stimulating; think of the kinetic editing of “Death Tunnel,” just on a micro-budget. The few attractive females are a plus, such as Jamie Doroslovac and Kyla Faith. While some parts are serious, others shoot for amusement, like the arrogant psychologist or annoying influencer. Unfortunately, I didn’t sense the story building up to much worthwhile in the last act, as was effectively done in “Heavy Metal Horror” from seven years earlier (which is also a pseudo-documentary). In other words, it needed tweaked for a more rewarding payoff IMHO. It runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in the Waterloo area of northeastern Iowa, including Fairbank, Oran, Fayette and (maybe) Clear Lake; as well some stuff done in Vienna, Ohio, and Los Angeles. GRADE: C+/B-