The age of the mom and pop video store was a time when
almost anything that could be made for a minor amount of money was taking place
and rushed to the shelves to satisfy a customer base willing to plop down money
for anything new. It was a time that I’ve talked about before, a time when
horror films were being made that featured some terrible effects, mindless
plots and plenty of skin and gore. Not all of these movies were bad but then
again most weren’t that good. Take THE CHILL FACTOR.
Narrated in the present a woman tells her story of a group
of friends off for a weekend of snowmobiling. They stop in a tavern where they
eat, drink and talk to the local friendly barmaid/owner. She tells them that if
they’re going out to make sure they get back before dark and to avoid Black
Friar Lake and she’ll tell them all about the place when they get back.
The group heads out, the testosterone inspires two of the
guys to race and one of them ends up tossed from his snowmobile and into a tree
severely damaging him. Looking for shelter they come across the main building
that once housed a summer camp. Filled with religious icons and covered in dust
no one had been here for some time. Injured enough that he can’t be moved, one
of the members decides to race back and get help before it gets too dark.
As the others scout out the building they come across what
resembles an Ouija board. Jeannie, our narrator, tells them that this is a
Devil’s Eye board and also lets them know that her mother was a gypsy fortune
teller. They beg her to show them how it works in spite of her repeated pleas
that it will only offer them danger. Of course she eventually caves in and the
door is then opened for malevolent spirits to once more walk the earth.
It isn’t long before the members of this small group begin
being killed off one by one. The wounded member suddenly makes a miraculous
recovery but we know this is only because the demon spirits are attempting to
possess him. And while we know that at least one of these friends will survive
(our narrator), we don’t know if any of the rest will or what she will find by
the end of the film.
Other than the equipment rentals used to make the film most
likely the biggest budget went to renting the snowmobiles for the film. The
sets aren’t bad but kept enough in darkness enough that we don’t really see
much. The acting is better than many low budget flicks but nothing that would
stand out or make you think anyone involved would go on to bigger and better things.
I can tell you up front that none of them did and the most roles any of them
show at imdb is 6. For most this was their only experience before a camera.
And yet it isn’t the worst movie ever made or even among the
top ten. It’s actually not bad in spite of everything. Some might rank it among
those terrible movies that are so bad they’re good but I found it to be decent
if nothing else. Is it one I’m likely to pull out from time to time? No. Is it
one I would suggest to mainstream renters of movies? No. But I would suggest it
to those friends I have who enjoy a good low budget horror film and can accept
it for what it is.
Arrow Video has done more for this movie than the original
backers did. To begin with it’s being offered on blu-ray with a 2k scan from
original film elements. And the extras are more than one would expect from a
small film like this. They include a new audio commentary track with special
effects artist Hank Carlson and horror writer Josh Hadley, a new interview with
makeup artist Jeffrey Lyle Segal, a new interview with production manager
Alexandra Reed, a new interview with stunt coordinator Gary Paul, a still
gallery, the original VHS trailer, a reversible sleeve with original artwork
and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach and for the first pressing
only a collector’s booklet with new writing by Mike White.
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