- Directed by: Samuel Clemens
- Written by: Samuel Clemens
- Stars: Alan Carlton, Michelangelo Fortuzzi, Corrine Wicks
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 24 Minutes
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fs3kjKBLk4
Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone
When three guys rendezvous at a secluded beach house after a heist, they are missing their fourth partner. Suspicions abound, and the three have a history that we gradually get to learn. Then things get more complicated. The soundtrack was especially effective here, and they had a great setting to use. We both thought it’s well made, with Brian leaning toward it being dull and Kevin not finding it dull at all.
Spoilery Synopsis
We see a man riding a ferry as the credits roll. He drives on the isolated country roads and stares at a red bag on the seat next to him. He eventually comes to a car and switches license plates; Eric’s very prepared for all this.
He walks quite a distance to a house on the shore. He goes through the house room to room with his gun drawn and then goes outside to call for Denice. He finds a map tube with a painting inside next to a bloody patch and a bracelet on the beach.
Matt arrives, also looking for Denice, and Eric says he doesn’t think she’s coming. Matt, Denice’s son, says her car is gone, but Eric knows he parked right next to her. Eric assumes she’s dead, but he doesn’t let on to Matt, his lover. When they get back to the house, Paul is there waiting for them. The painting is worth forty million, and they all wonder why Denice isn’t there for her share.
All three of the men get a weird “flash” trance and then start behaving strangely. They all zombie-walk out to the beach and then “wake up” not sure what just happened. They’re all tired and a little paranoid, so they blame that.
Inside, a bucket of blood calls to Matt. Paul accuses Eric of killing Denice; he’s got video footage. Matt finds Denice’s bracelet in a bucket of blood. They all argue until a woman comes to the door for help. Matt notices on the way out that the bucket is gone. Opal and Noe bring the guys to Pixie, who has nearly drowned. Eric revives her.
The girls talk about their boating accident; the water out there hides things, and their boat sank. Everyone gets introduced. The three girls are all strange, and they suspect something is weird about the three guys.
The group plays “two truths and a lie.” Pixie demonstrates her kung-fu abilities on Eric as everyone gets to know each other.
Suddenly, the lights go out, and everyone pairs off to make out. As Pixie and Eric start having sex, he and the other men go into a trance again. They all go outside to find a trail of blood where Matt and Opal used to be.
Eric and Paul walk down to the water’s edge and find another pile of meat. Paul suggests earplugs to block the hypnotic sound that seems to be causing their troubles. Eric soon loses an earplug and then starts hearing voices.
Something attacks Eric on the beach. Meanwhile, Paul takes the painting, ties himself to a pole, and is also mesmerized – but can’t get away because he’s held in place. Whatever is doing this tries repeatedly to take him, but it can’t break the ropes. We get a flashback showing that Paul has mailed Scotland Yard about Eric, turning him in.
By the morning, Paul has gotten loose and walks to the beach and sees the three girls standing way out in the water. He walks out to them, but they aren’t really there. Yes, they are– they’re mermaids, and they take Paul.
We cut to Denice, who wakes up on the beach after having been possessed as well. She’s got a big bite taken out of her leg, but she’s very much alive. She walks back to the house and looks for her three partners in crime. She sees the painting hanging on the wall; it’s the stolen painting, and it’s a work about mermaids luring men to their doom…
Brian’s Commentary
The soundtrack immediately stands out and gives everything a really mysterious feel. The mystery in the beginning was intriguing, but as soon as the three girls showed up, everything ground to a halt. The girls were weird enough that we assumed they were monsters, but then, when something happened to one of them, that theory changed.
We more or less get an explanation at the end of the film, but I think a little more of a hint early on might have made the story easier to follow as it went along.
It was well made, looked and sounded great, just a little on the dull side for me.
Kevin’s Commentary
It did indeed have a great soundtrack and a great setting. I thought it was pretty obvious what the girls were early on. It’s interesting seeing movies like this, there have been others where the monster or creatures or vampire is just so overwhelmingly powerful that they are playing with the human characters like toys, and you know there’s no hope for them. There will be no survivors. Not that it’s not still entertaining. I thought it was a well put together piece, nice and short with little wasted time. I didn’t think it was dull and would give it a thumbs up.