Talon Falls is a horror movie from 2017 which tells the story of four teenagers - Zach, Carter, Tori, and Erica - who seek adventure by visiting a Halloween attraction in rural Kentucky. The Talon Falls Screampark is known for its extreme scares, realistic illusions, and grotesque actors. The teens are excited to test their bravery and have fun, but they soon realize that the place is not just a cheesy tourist trap; it's a nightmare come true.
As the group enters the park, they are greeted by a sinister figure in a clown mask who guides them through various gruesome scenes. They see actors pretending to chop off limbs, burn bodies, and crucify victims. They hear screams, chainsaws, and ominous music. They smell blood, smoke, and decay. At first, the teens are impressed by the production value and the adrenaline rush of being scared, but as the night progresses, they start to suspect that something is off.
The actors start to act too violently and realistically, causing wounds and bruises. The park seems to have no exit, no phones, and no staff. The clown guide becomes more sadistic and cryptic, revealing flashes of his true personality. The scenes turn from horror movies to torture porn, with the teens being humiliated, violated, and tortured. The lines between fiction and reality blur, and the teens find themselves trapped in a twisted game of survival.
The film showcases the psychological and physical effects of fear, trauma, and desperation. The teens are not just shallow stereotypes, but complex characters with different backgrounds, personalities, and motivations. Zach is a jock who hides his insecurities behind his libido. Carter is a nerd who tries to impress the rest by his knowledge of horror. Tori is a goth who rebels against her religious upbringing. Erica is a cheerleader who seeks excitement outside her comfort zone. Each of them has a personal demon to face, and each of them reacts differently to the horrors they face.
The movie has a low-budget, but it uses this to its advantage. The park is not gory or CGI-heavy, but relies on practical effects, lighting, and sound to create a creepy atmosphere. The camera work is shaky, close-up, and claustrophobic, giving the impression that the viewer is in the teens' shoes. The jump scares are not cheap or predictable, but earned through suspense and misdirection. The violence and gore are not gratuitous or exploitative, but serve the plot and the characters' arcs.
The acting is a mixed bag, but overall decent for a horror movie. Fred Biggs stands out as the clown, delivering a nuanced and unnerving performance that hints at both his sadism and his vulnerability. Morgan Wiggins is also convincing as Tori, showing a range of emotions from fear to anger to despair. Tim McCain is less impressive as Zach, often relying on his looks and body language rather than his delivery. The other actors have less screen time and less impact, but still contribute to the tension and the dread.
The movie has some flaws, however. The pacing is uneven, with some scenes being too slow and some being too rushed. The script is predictable at times, with some lines and twists feeling clichéd or contrived. The climax is divisive, with some viewers finding it satisfying and others finding it disappointing. The ending could be seen as ambiguous or as a cop-out, depending on one's interpretation.
Overall, Talon Falls is a decent horror movie that offers some scares and some substance. It's not a masterpiece or a classic, but it's better than many horror films of its kind. It's a movie that can be enjoyed with friends on a dark night, or alone on a laptop with headphones. It's not for the faint of heart or the easily triggered, but for those who crave a good old-fashioned fright, it's worth a watch.
Talon Falls is a 2017 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.4.
