All Hallow's Eve (2013)


We all have to start somewhere and, before Art the Clown became a modern horror phenomenon, director, writer and makeup artist Damien Leone was just trying to get some notice.  He made two short films, 2008's The 9th Circle and 2011's Terrifier.  A producer, putting together a horror anthology, was anxious to combine the two with some work from others, but Leone decided to add his own wraparound story as well as a new third segment.  In 2013, using these elements, Leone made his feature debut with All Hallow's Eve. 

Sarah (Katie Maguire) is babysitting Tia (Sydney Freihofer) and Timmy (Cole Mathewson).  When emptying out their Halloween haul Timmy finds that he has been gifted a videotape.  Curious, he demands to watch it, but Sarah wants to make sure of what it is first.  At first it appears to be a typical horror film, starting with a woman (Kayla Lian) in a train station that is drugged and kidnaped by Art the Clown (Mike Giannelli) and made part of a black mass.  

Sarah is not happy that the kids have watched this far and puts them to bed, with Tia being scared that something is lurking in her closet.  Meanwhile, Sarah decides to see what else is on the tape, with the next segment showing a woman named Caroline (Catherine A. Callahan) who is attacked by an alien (Brandon deSpain) in the house she is moving into.  The final segment features Art's return, menacing a costume designer (Marie Maser) who is returning home from college.  Unfortunately, the terror doesn't stop with the end of the tape. 

Leone reused a good number of the gags and ideas from Terrifier in his 2016 feature film of the same name, so fans will recognize a number of elements in this last section.  It is filmed with computer-added film damage in an attempt to make it look like a more grindhouse-style film, but that added effect is used creatively toward the end in the wraparound story.  The 9th Circle is interesting, both in presenting an early version of Art as well as a highlight reel for Leone's makeup work, but it is in the last third that the Art we know surfaces, although Giannelli would retire from acting after this film and David Howard Thornton would go on to make the character a horror icon.

What one will enjoy from this will depend on one's enjoyment of Leone's movies.  His drive to get creative with makeup and effects often goes into realms that are doing more than just pushing the boundaries of good taste.  The good thing about Art is that he always works to add some dark humor to the proceedings, taking the edge out of some of what happens.  It's something a number of current directors could learn.

All Hallow's Eve (2013)
Time: 83 minutes
Starring: Katie Maguire, Sydney Freihofer, Cole Mathewson, Kayla Lian, Marie Maser, Catherine A. Callahan, Mike Giannelli
Director: Damien Leone



 

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