After being absolutely demolished by derivative fare in the last decade or so, the horror genre has made a somewhat strong comeback in the 2020s. Drilling deep into stories that shock, startle and impress audiences, auteur filmmakers have managed to turn the genre around, which had all but been relegated to cheap direct to DVD fare not too long ago.
Part of this ‘renaissance’ is Tim Hannigan’s Murderfest, a 2024 horror feature that puts a new spin on its own subgenre. Starring Deniella Alexis, Alexxis Marcia, Aida Madani, James Ferreira and others, the film is a story of five live streaming serial killers. At their end are a group of ten unsuspecting victims and as the killers stalk and slash their way through the victims, the massacre is live streamed for a sick online audience.
Hannigan both writes and directs this outing and thus, the result is a film that feels even and balanced. I have always said that the best director for a script is its own writer and this is because the writer always knows the nuance and the subtext behind his own script. Infusing exciting and original ideas into the script, Hannigan manages to subvert audience expectations with a film that is gory, bloody and a damn good time.
The best thing about Murderfest is how it puts a new spin on live streamed slasher films. Rather than relying on cheap makeup and cheaper jumpscares that become tedious after a while, the creators behind this project try to truly unnerve the audience through palpable tension, horrific imagery and an underlying story that becomes more disturbing the more you think about it. Hannigan has written a story that stays clear of all the cliches and narrative pitfalls of the horror genre and instead tries to carve a new niche. Whether Hannigan ends up succeeding in this regard or not is up for debate, what is clear is that Murderfest ends up being an original, potent horror feature that manages to leave its competition in the dust.
While the plot is something that we have all seen before in one form or another, Hannigan adds enough new twists and turns so that the story turns out both unexpected and fresh. As for the cast, they bring their A-game to the table. Horror films rarely have good acting but Murderfest knocks it out of the park in this regard. Almost everyone manages to impress and there are several standout performances that really make you take notice. Deniella Alexis Tarin is fantastic as her earnest performance does the script and the film justice. Equally great are Alexxis Marcia and Aida Madani who add much needed depth to the script. The chemistry between the actors is impressive and they bring a level of depth and emotion to their characters that elevates the entire story.
Visually, the film hits it out of the park. The unique cinematography owing to the film’s use of live streaming to depict kills puts a new perspective on the narrative. This not only helps the audience get into the shoes of the victims but also adds a layer of tension and shock. The sound editing is on point and the narrative pacing remains brisk, thanks to sharp editing all around.
To conclude, 2024’s Murderfest is thus one of the more awesome horror thrillers released this year. Made on a shoestring budget, the film manages to burst out of its own shell, impressing with its premise, characters and carnage. The odyssey of blood and madness depicted here will impress genre fans whilst attracting new eyeballs to the genre. We loved the film and highly recommend it to all.
