(Joshua Gilmore-Staff Writer)
The genre of horror is like walking down a dark alley, there is excitement and a possibility of your outlook on life being changed. When you take that same scenario and bring it into the world of independent filmmaking, you can look at that dark alley and slap on a blindfold, since it’s a world where the normal rules are thrown out the window.
CONJOINED is a horror comedy that follows the hopeless romantic Stanley, who is played by Tom Long, as he prepares for his long term and long distance girlfriend Alina, who is played by Michelle Ellen Jones, move into his place. As the special day arrives, Alina reveals a small secret and that secret is her sister Alisa, who is played by Keefer Barlow, who happens to be literally attached to her. This news is a shock to Stanley, but he wants to make it work and his attempt is honorable, until one more secret is reveal is the bloodiest of fashion. Alisa has a psychotic side that will leave a body count.
The work of the cast stands out in this cross between an episode of Tales From The Crypt and Three’s Company with a few low doses of acid, but the minds behind the camera deserve the praise of the suppliers of the cinematic hallucinogens.
Joe Grisaffi was the director of Conjoined and gave this film a visual look that fit perfectly into the twisted script that was written by Chuck and Tim Norfolk. Grisaffi’s direction made this movie into a great watch, when a concept like this could have fallen off the rails fast.
As CONJOINED is not your normal movie, a review for this movie should be treated the same way. This movie should be seen with a group and enjoyed. Also, if you’re a fan of the worlds of TROMA and other strange cinema landscapes, you will be right at home with this blood soaked side show of a love story. In the end, I will give CONJOINED a 7 out of 10.
From The Day of the Dead Convention April 2016 (Doug Porter, Kansas Bowling, Joshua Gilmore)
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