Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR
    • Home
    • Film Reviews
      • Films Beginning With Numbers or Symbols
      • A – C
      • D – F
      • G – I
      • J – L
      • M – O
      • P – R
      • S – U
      • V – X
      • Y – Z
    • Book Reviews
    • Franchise Corner
    • Competitions
    • Horror Screams Podcast
    • Contact Us
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR

    Film Review: SEMESTER’S END (2008)

    Peter 'Witchfinder' HopkinsBy Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins21st July 2019Updated:21st July 2019No Comments3 Mins Read

    SEMESTERS END * USA 2008 Dir: Zach Bressler 71 mins 


    A killer is on the loose of a college campus and as young girls are being picked off one at a time by a shadowy stalker,  teaching assistant Rachel (Allison Bloch) is starting to worry that she might be next. The womanizing professor she was having an affair with is the prime suspect yet Rachel is getting increasingly concerned by the shifty looking janitor that seems to be paying her a lot of attention.
    Naturally she does what all self respecting females would do (I say this with tongue placed firmly in cheek) and hooks up with a student who vows to protect her. Done in quite a lazy and nonchalant manner this is stupidly obvious in it’s misdirection. So much so you already know who the killer is by the halfway point, yet they still keep trying to mislead you. It may have come across as slightly more believable if the characters acted a little bit more like actual human beings placed in these situations rather than the cold, uncaring, distant and fake portrayals we are given . For example; a gruff police detective manages to use the most vapid line of questioning whilst being oblivious to everything around him. Another prime example of the lack of effort is the pervy professor apparently being on the run decides to return to the college cleverly disguised wearing … wait for it… a baseball cap. There is not much in the way of horror either (unless you are counting the acting) as the few kills in this are all off screen, the stalker remains unseen and the effects are minimal. They try to add a horror element by incorporating some nightmarish dream sequences which just seem confused and fall rather flat.  Considering its only 10 years old it hasn’t aged well in terms of set design, costume and overall feel in general which just felt tired. There are a couple of good features though. One being the soundtrack which is pretty effective and quite 80’s but you do need a strong appreciation of the xylophone to fully enjoy it. The opening title sequence is also pretty cool. Another good point was the literature that Rachel liked to immerse herself in and the fact she was teaching the works of Edgar Allan Poe to her students but that is where the good stuff ends the rest of it I found bland and unappealing.

    Review by Sarah Budd


    Facebook0Like0Share0Tweet0Pin0
    Allison Bloch Semester's End Slasher Zach Bressler

    Related Posts

    Film Review: SLASHENING: THE FINAL BEGINNING (2021)

    20th June 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Slasher 4.0 will be a major shift forward for those celebrating all things horror

    27th May 202202 Mins Read
    Read More

    SRS Cinema slash their way to BLOOD COVE for latest release

    5th May 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Every Day Is Halloween On The Slasher Social Network

    28th October 202102 Mins Read
    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Search The Website
    Recent Posts
    • Special Needs Revolt! Currently In-Development from Adrian Esposito-Nomeika
    • Better Noise Films’ Acclaimed Gorefest THE RETALIATORS, Featuring Mötley Crue and Papa Roach, Sets Worldwide Release
    • Horror Channel rebrands as Legend
    • SRS June Blu-rays – Pre-sales begin now on a new Amityville Movie, a Horror Musical and a Grindhouse Homage.
    • Peaches Christ’s Lost Cult Film ALL ABOUT EVIL Starring Natasha Lyonne Resurrected This Summer on Blu-ray & Shudder
    Archives
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.