By David Dent
Jenny (Haley Leary) and her husband Lucas (Chris Mayers) make the move from the city to the suburbs, to a house which they’ve bought at a knock down price. While the quiet life suits Lucas, Jenny’s not so sure, fearing small town life and, in particular, the dreaded HOA (the US version of a residents’ association) with its exorbitant fees and extensive rulebook.
When HOA president Jerry (Julian Smith) invites the couple to a party at the estate clubhouse, ostensibly to celebrate the equinox, reluctant Jenny fears the worst; the only way she can get through the evening is to find alcohol, in the shape of neighbour Lesley (Tordy Clark) and her incredibly strong home made moonshine.
But Jerry has a more serious purpose in summoning the neighbours; it turns out that the party is in fact an annual ritual in which the residents of the suburb must gang together to battle demonic forces which emerge from a hole in the ground at the edge of the estate. Jenny and Lucas are about to find out the meaning of ‘neighbourhood watch’ the hard way.
William Bagley’s second feature is a knockabout horror comedy with more than a nod to Sam Raimi’s second installment in the ‘Evil Dead’ trilogy. The characters of the neighbours are all pretty broadly drawn, playing second fiddle to a basic residents vs demons setup. Considering that Hold the Fort gets to the action pretty quickly – no lengthy lead up here – Bagley has a hard time sustaining both the suspense and the comedy; too many scenes fizzle out and there isn’t enough budget to give us the monster pyrotechnics we really need. But iIt’s a good natured romp with some smart lines; many of the gags land, even if overall it’s a thin idea stretched to breaking point.
Hold The Fort screened as part of Frightfest 2025.
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