Welcome to Blood on my Sofa! Each month I will be providing you with a movie recommendation. It won’t be just any movie, but a movie I watched during the month that really rocked my world. I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t spreading my love of horror films. In this installment, we will be taking a look at The Demented.
Also See: Blood on My Sofa: Let’s Talk Terrifier!
I’ve seen so many horror movies where someone is vacationing with their boo and a group of friends and things turn into a bloodbath. As a result, I don’t vacation. I sit in my room. One lamp. One Hello Kitty mug. One iPhone. I scroll through Instagram, watch others vacation, and count my blessings for having avoided seeing my friends chewed up limbs, and my boo’s brains sliding across the floor like the woman from The Steve Harvey Show. (Gosh, I really hope she’s okay.) Many films have brought me to this life of caution, but there is one I often return to for reassurance. Written and directed by Christopher Roosevelt, The Demented (2013) a.k.a. Beware of the Demented is not for the faint of heart. It flaunts a talented and gorgeous main cast; however, the impressive extras ultimately steal the show.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Taylor (Kayla Ewell), boyfriend David (Richard Kohnke) and college friends Naomi (Brittney Alger) and Brice (Ashlee Brian) travel to a weekend getaway. The destination—the house of overly sexual friend Howard (Michael Welch) and his girlfriend Sharley (Sarah Butler). Bottles and bikinis arrive shortly after the friends unite. But the fun ends when the phone rings. Frantic, Brice’s father warns the group of a biological terrorist attack that turns people near the gulf into raging zombies. This leaves the six striving for survival and arguing if leaving the house is the best option.
I would be tempted to leave the house, though more to explore Louisiana than to seek help for my life. In my mind, Louisiana is a magical place. I’ve only explored New Orleans for three short hours before having to continue my drive to Texas. However, in that short time, I remember the scrumptious burgers and stepping into unique shops to pick through trinkets. I also recall chatting with the most enchanting people on Earth. Then, this film expanded my appreciation for Louisianans by showcasing their devotion to whatever task they are given. This movie was filmed in Louisiana, where most if not all of the extras call home. Therefore, if you are looking for top talent in the area, it seems you need to contact casting director Lisa Marie Dupree. She has been responsible for the casting of Louisiana-filmed projects such as the Breakout Kings, Kickboxer: Vengeance, Intruders, Season of the Witch, and many more. With The Demented, the extras she helped select signed up to run through windows, soar from car hoods, rampage a college campus, and feast on human flesh. In short, the extras rocked.
Aside from talent, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the conventional storyline. I know; I’m usually the biggest sucker for crafty ways films introduce the zombie apocalypse. But this story didn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel. It reminded me of a SyFy original film, in which the typical biological attack causes the zombie outbreak. Where a film like this excels is showcasing how screwed up of a situation the writer and director can put the cast in, making viewers feel as uneasy as possible. Once again, this is where the extras shined. They terrorized the main cast more than I terrorize the Harvest Salad at Wendy’s.
After viewing this film multiple times, I publicly demand more from director Christopher Roosevelt. I know that he mainly produces films, but I think he has a knack for directing a wild rollercoaster ride.
Since we’ve made it to the conclusion paragraph of this review, let me be honest in saying that I lied in the first paragraph. Not about The Demented; I love this film. I lied about vacationing. I do go on vacations. But, if someone ever starts ticking like the zombies in The Demented, then what I said before won’t be a lie. I will never vacation again. If you don’t believe me, watch The Demented. Afterwards, let me know what your answer is to the following question: Would you stay in the house, or would you risk going outside?
