Director: Tom Ryan
Writers: Russell Hackett, Tom Ryan
Stars: Tom Ryan, Lauren Renahan, Heather Brittain O’Scanlon
Run Time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2VRHdLO
Synopsis
A girl named Amber has a flyer to “Save the old theater,” and she goes to volunteer. The door opens mysteriously, and she goes inside. She meets up with Colin, who says it’s too late; the Landmark Theater is now out of business. Everyone just watches films on streaming media nowadays. Colin wants to show Amber around the old theater.
Amber finds a lost doll, and Colin tells her a story, “The Gift.” The projector starts up and we get our first segment. Donna, a hooker, accidentally kills a guy and takes his wallet. She goes and hides out in an antique store and has a conversation with a shopkeeper. She tells him about happier times, when she was married with a little girl. She starts working late at her job, and a co-worker gives her “a gift,” a pill that will give her more energy. Before long, she’s an addict, and her husband throws her out. The shopkeeper asks what would Donna do to see her daughter again, and she responds, “Anything…”
The second segment is “The Bookworm.” Mark Yeager purchased a library at an auction last week. The books are rare, special, and uncountably valuable. He goes inside and yep- it’s a full library, and it’s all his. He finds one book simply called “Bookworm.” He falls asleep while reading it. As he sleeps, something crawls up his leg…
The third segment is about a guy named Ned, and is called “Abducted.” The sheriff stops by and asks if Ned’s seen any of the missing college girls from a few weeks ago. There’s also a missing hunter. Ned’s out camping that night, and he finds out what happened to the missing people. Alien abductions aren’t always what they appear…
Colin tells Amber one final story, “Endangered.” Something in the woods kills two pipeline construction workers. Protesters want to “Save the gray wolf.” A small group of eco-terrorists decide they can stop the hunters and save the wolves. One of the hunters screams, and it seems that there may be more than one wolf. They are approached by a strange old woman who offers to help them. She doesn’t seem at all suspicious or creepy. Then we meet her sons, who look completely harmless and innocent.
And, of course, after the fourth segment, we return to Amber and Colin in the old theater. Amber realizes that she’s changed since she came inside…
Commentary
All four stories are surprisingly good. They are all paced well, have solid stories and acting, and it all looks pretty good. This didn’t have much in the way of CGI; it used more practical effects, which is always nice. The worm transformation and the alien visitors were both particularly good.
There are some unexpected twists and just enough humor to make it interesting without taking itself too seriously. I strongly recommend this anthology.