Six college students sneak into an abandoned chemical factory for an end of the semester party. Once there, they become the prey of a mutated former employee (Tiffany Shepis) of the factory who craves human blood. The partiers must find their way out of the labyrinthine building before they all become lunch for the creature.

Those critical of low budget productions and trite dialogue should steer clear of this movie. However, as most horror fans will tell you, budget doesn't have anything to do with quality. In fact, most horror directors shine when their budgets are cut or raised themselves. When a director knows what his/her limitations are, they usually give the audience exactly what it wants. This is the case in Death Factory.

Brad Sykes is a competent director and the actors (especially Jay, Zamudio, and Shepis) put in some heartfelt (albeit cheesy) performances. There's even a cameo by Ron Jeremy to spruce things up a bit. The pacing of the film is handled very well and it never gets dull. The creature effects are simple yet effective and the gore is supplied generously.

Overall, Death Factory is fun stuff. If college kids running around in an abandoned factory with a half human killing machine on their tails isn't your idea of a good time well... You're beyond help. There's nothing pretentious or lofty here, so take off your thinking cap and kick off your shoes, this straight to video gem will make your night.

Goth
Directed By Brad Sykes
Released: 2003
Starring: Phoebe Dollar, Laura Reilly, and Dave Stann
Running Time: 85 minutes
DVD Studio: Brain Damage Films

Chrissy (played by Laura Reilly) wakes up in a bathroom covered in blood and completely disoriented. She ventures out into the rest of the house where she finds a group of strangers stabbed to death. The film flashes back to 8 hours earlier and Chrissy’s boyfriend, Boone (Dave Stann), arrives to take her to a concert. While at the club, Chrissy meets a girl who calls herself Goth (Phoebe Dollar) who promises to share some of a new drug called “White Light” with her and Boone. After rescuing them from some would be muggers, Goth takes Chrissy and Boone out for a night on the town in her van. The couple realizes that they are in grave danger because Goth soon proves to them that she is both violent and completely out of her mind.

Goth was written and directed by Brad Sykes (Zombie Chronicles, The Coven) and despite some clunky dialogue and silly looking stunts, this is a great little horror flick filled with sex, drugs, and Goth n’ Roll, baby. Competently filmed (well, videotaped) and edited, the film moves quickly and takes the viewer right along with Goth for one hellish night. The film’s score (gothic nu-metal aside) is very unsettling and adds to the claustrophobic feeling that much of the film conveys. Although the plot is quite farfetched (with a cornball twist or two), Goth is still a riveting and tense experience.

Although the two protagonists are well played by Laura Reilly and Dave Stann, it is Goth herself who steals the show. The devious Goth is played by the bewitching Phoebe Dollar (Hell’s Highway, Blood Sisters) whose wide-eyed creepiness gives the film an unexpected blast of energy. Dollar is mesmerizing to watch and helps to lift Goth above its cheap sets and bland gore effects. This is one actress to keep an eye out for.

It’s easy to criticize these low budget features for their faults (both minor and major) but it’s impossible to ignore when a horror film was put together by a talented crew who really loves filmmaking. Goth is one of those indie horror flicks that will undoubtedly build a cult following thanks in no small part to its unrelenting pace and enthusiastically portrayed title character. Adventurous viewers should give Goth a chance, you won’t be disappointed. Although you will be left wondering who the hell was driving the van.

DVD Specs:

This double feature from Brain Damage Films is not only a great deal but also full of extras for fans of Goth and Death Factory. Both the Death Factory and Goth discs feature Director/Producer Commentary, Behind-The-Scenes, "The Making Of" Featurette, Bloopers, Cast And Crew Interviews, A Photo Gallery, and Trailers for Brain Damage Films. Pick this one up people, you won't regret it.