Beast Mode (2020) Review
This 80s throwback horror tells the story of Breen Nash (C Thomas Howell), a has-been Hollywood producer, who after accidentally killing his lead star, turns to an ancient herbal elixir, in the hope that it will save his career. He makes a dark deal that unleashes a band of bloodthirsty, shape-shifting, ferocious beasts on LA.
For a short while BEAST MODE looked like it had nailed the spirit and vibe of the Eighties comedy/horrors that it sought to emulate. For the first twenty minutes it was proving to be an agreeable viewing experience but it soon became apparent that unlike classic Eighties comedy/horrors such as FRIGHT NIGHT and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD this film leaned heavier in favour of situation comedy shunting the horror aspects aside for the most part. It felt like two different movies cut together rather than a cohesive whole.
The cast are likeable however the film’s tone doesn’t quite hit the right note with the comedy likeable but never funny increasingly becoming rather one note. It’s evident that the cast get the joke but somehow the finished product just feels flat. And whilst it’s always nice to see familiar faces onscreen – Ray Wise, James Hong, Leslie Easterbrook amongst others – BEAST MODE ultimately plays like one of star C.Thomas Howell’s Eighties comedies – SOUL MAN comes to mind – which again wanted to be funny but somehow managed to miss the mark.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
