Monstersdotcom

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note: contains plot spoilers

Monstersdotcom, a horror anthology by Brimstone entertainment contains three short films and a interwoven wraparound. The wraparound (directed by Kevin Lindenmuth) concerns an individual whose daughter is killed by the person he is now holding hostage. He believes the killer to be a monster who lured his daughter to her death with the use of SPAM (also the title of the wraparound) from his Monstersdotcom website. Les Sekely, who plays the captive, is really over the top, but has some great dialogue. There are several Lovecraft terms peppered through the conversation between the two characters, such as Nightgaunt and Shadow Over Innsmouth.

The short films appear as Steve (Roger Beckett) clicks there titles on the Monstersdotcom website.

The first and best short, "Last Stop Station" (based on Andy Kumpon's story "Empty on Ideas" ) , is about a tabloid reporter who stops for gas at an out of the way gas station and discovers it's mysterious attendants (who don't like to get their pictures taken). After returning with a friend, they get the shots they're after but have to leave by foot, only to be pursued by the attendants. In the end they come up empty handed, but the viewer doesn't.

This is a very well made short shot in Black & White, and contains some nice directorial touches by Andy Kumpon. The special effects are also very effective considering the budget.

According to Brimstone's website, there could be further adventures from the "Last Stop Station" reporters:

~"Last Stop Station," budgeted at $1,200, is a short film developed within a much broader concept called "T.A.B.S." This is an acronym for "The Aliens Blueprint Strategy." "T.A.B.S." is an idea which could easily be turned into a series, a story as to wherein the shows heroes are, you guessed it, tabloid journalists or Tabs. The villains in "T.A.B.S" promise to be original, and even slightly controversial.~

After more of the wraparound is Wayne Spitzer's Lovecraft homage "Shadows in the Garden" (based one Wayne's story "There for I am Again"). The film begins with an interesting montage of newspaper clippings that get the story going. "Shadows" concerns a killer loose in the town of Cthulhu Gardens and a biological entity born in the laboratories of Sarnath Botanicals. This mostly silent short contains some very nice imagery, as well as an unusual storyline, in that it is told from the viewpoint of the monster. The effects while done on a low budget are effective at times, and are at the very least, different. I kept thinking of Japanese cinema as I watched it, maybe do to the unusual plant creature. Another Lovecraftian aspect of the short is it's great use of atmosphere. "Shadows" is another example of the creature as the good guy, and man as the 'monster' (think Nightbreed). While not as good as "Last Stop Station", it's still a well made short film.

The third short, "Quench", follows another installment of SPAM (which hints at even more Monsters lurking throughout the house).

Quench, directed by Chris Mack is about a women, who while telling the story of an unfortunate encounter with a man she ends up killing, brings back the memory of why (and how) she killed him. Reliving the memory leads to an similar conclusion with here current boyfriend. Quench is a bit out of place on this anthology, and really didn't hold my interest.

Following Quench is the final scene from the Kevin's SPAM wraparound. Death, another Lovecraft reference (Erich Zann), and a very poor bug creature ensue. I was really disappointed with the creature (bug) effects, and was surprised that effort was not taken to make it look like one of Lovecraft's faceless 'Nightguants' (an effect that should have been fairly easy to achieve). I'll not spoil the ending, but to say that it is all tied up with another Lovecraftian touch...

Overall, Monstersdotcom is an interesting if uneven effort.

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- Craig Mullins

View the Monstersdotcom image gallery here.

The official website can be found here.