Blu-Ray Review: Aftermath

By Brad Henderson

There are many elements to making a decent sci-fi/horror/apocalyptic independent film. Money is the biggest evil when it comes to this type of thing. For one, you need good effects. You need money for that. Well, if that doesn’t play in your favor you need to make up for it through other means. Since you don’t have money you can’t have A-listers so you need to find the best of the best in the indie community. Secondly, since you can’t have tons of locations you need to have a badass screenplay with a fresh story as well. Many other things follow suit in this equation like well-written characters and all that.

Aftermath is a new apocalyptic film that is ridiculously well done. At first it doesn’t seem like much because it takes place basically in one location—a basement. There will be eyerolls as well due to the fact that Edward Furlong is sort of a lead role in the film. To be honest, he isn’t all that bad. He is paired with his co-star from the remake of Night Of The Demons, Monica Keena (who is a complete cutie in my opinion). You probably haven’t heard of C.J. Thomason yet but he is an up and comer and will hit it big soon . . . hopefully, anyway.

The plot: World War III has happened and nuclear bombs have killed most of the population. However, in rural Texas there is a small group of survivors who band together in an old rundown farmhouse and start a “life” there. They are scared and frightened but are led by a couple f strong-willed individuals trying to make things right and keep things calm. Amongst the social issues in the confined area they are dealing with include waiting on the news from the government, fending off hunger, staying away from the radiation, and fighting off a horde of dying and desperate people outside.

Now, with all of this going on while they are bottled up in their makeshift shelter, they have to deal with each other and that is the biggest obstacle of all. If a film is about the characters instead of the plot, it is essential to have a great screenplay. These types of films are some of my favorites because character development is my favorite thing in films. With Aftermath, it’s all about the characters rather than the plot, and that is a good thing.

There is a new wave of films like this out now and more are coming soon. I’m not kidding when I say this: I’ve actually made up a sub-genre for these films and I call it “story horror.” Story Horror films are ones that focus more on characters and building up the relationship rather than trying to scare the shit out of people. Films like The Invoking, Oculus, I Am ZoZo, The Battery, and Aftermath all fall into this genre. I hope this genre (that I’ve made up) stays with us to the end because I love it. I’m doubtful it will because ignorant people complain that these are the films where “nothing happens” because people are not being killed every five minutes or there isn’t a jump scare every 12 minutes. Those kinds of films are fun and some are really good. However, I think “story horror” films are important and need to blossom into something bigger instead of remaining at the indie level.

Aftermath is legit and keeps its head above water most of the time. The key to this movie is the ending. You literally hold your breath for the last 15 minutes and it’s completely nerve wracking. Also: give The Furlong a chance; he isn’t all that bad. He does play The Furlong but it fits for this role.

Aftermath will be released on Blu-Ray on August 26 by Image Entertainment.