Directed by:
Dante TomaselliScreenplay:
Dante TomaselliCinematography:
Timothy NaylorCast:
Vincent Pastore, Christie Sanford, Lynn Lowry, Ron Millkie, Al Sapienza, Raine Brown, Danny Lopes, Richard Busser, Matt PerfetuoVOD (1)
Plots(1)
A shocking family portrait. A boy oozing blood and saliva, bound by ropes and handcuffs, imprisoned in an animal cage. A deeply religious mother who believes her son is controlled by the devil. A Catholic priest devoted to saving his family, who tries to cure his deranged younger brother – but 13-year-old Jimmy Morgan is possessed by an evil too powerful to be exorcised by any religion. After escaping from a mental institution, Jimmy is back with a vengeance – and an army of children who follow his every murderous desire. The town trembles in fear as the youths attack and abduct its residents – innocent and guilty alike – dragging their victims to an abandoned castle and subjecting them to grisly torments deep within its underground tunnels. Those who discover the terrible secret behind the disappearances and deaths don’t live long enough to tell it. The teacher, the doctor, even Jimmy’s own brother and mother, will all confront their fates in the Torture Chamber. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Every time I came across this film, the name “Torture Chamber”, the amateurish poster and the director’s filmography consisting of not very well known or well received movies discouraged me completely. But today, after randomly reading several positive reviews on renowned horror websites, I decided to give it a go, and I’m really happy I did! I’m very pleased and I’m almost giving it five stars. The film is illogical; rather irrational, overall. To judge it on the basis of the complexity or coherence of the story would be a very bad idea. It’s better to judge it by its intensity (there isn’t a SINGLE scene that is not either terrifying or at the very least disturbing) and at all costs avoid taking it as a stupid allegory, the meaning of which can be fully seen in the ending (and maybe also in that very intense sequence of the conversion of one image). Torture Chamber blends the best of European old-school horror (Argento and especially Fulci), complementing it with that evil aura around the main villain – the burnt boy, Jimmy, is the pure embodiment of evil, just like Michael Myers was in Carpenter’s Halloween. In short, a horror movie from another era; if it was made 30 or 40 years ago, by now it would have at least five sequels and a remake from Platinum Dunes. I wouldn’t have given a toss before watching it, but now I can’t wait to see what Dante Tomaselli will do next.
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I don't know, I'm not really into these low low low budget horror movies. Torture Chamber has decent cinematography, an interesting setting and you can feel the old-school inspiration in every minute, but once the gore or some horror element comes in, it's pretty lame. The premise is decent, but it didn't get a proper execution, which doesn't allow me to go higher than 3*. It reminded me a lot of the similar indie Found in its concept and look.
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