Eldritch USA (2023) Review

Eldritch USA (2023) Review

Siblings Geoff and Rich Brewer have competed all their lives for parental affection, career ambitions, and romantic pursuits. Rich, the elder brother, always comes out on top leaving Geoff to struggle in his shadow. Tragedy strikes their family in a freak accident. In a panic, Geoff seeks out a backwoods cult rumoured to have supernatural powers. The bumbling cult’s ritual initially solves the problem, but it soon becomes apparent that they have unleashed a sinister force on their unsuspecting, Midwestern town.

Its fair to say that not everything marketing companies send film critics to review is going to hit the mark. Nowadays with streaming services eager to add whatever they can, regardless of quality, to beef up their catalogue most of these movies are at best barely watchable. So when ELDRITCH USA was offered up to me for reviewing, I approached it as I do now with so many of the unknown titles that come my way, with a wary eye and consequently I had already partially written it off as another dud before I had even glimpsed a frame of it. Admittedly it is unfair to have a bias in advance however in my defence when one gets to sit through so much dross inevitably you are geared up to expect more.

I am pleased to report that zombie-comedy-musical ELDRITCH USA bucks that trend. Everything is on point. The cast are pitch perfect, the songs don’t outstay their welcome and everyone gives it everything they have got. The humour lands – the song referencing Stephen King classics is one particular comic highlight – and co-directors Ryan Smith (who also wrote) and Tyler Foreman have delivered the goods in abundance.

I know that a lot of folks – judging by the user reviews for all lower budget films on IMDB, tend to turn their noses up at any film that costs less to make than your standard Hollywood blockbuster to make but for those that are up for something lively, and a little different then ELDRITCH USA is the movie for you. It has cult potential – how often do you come across a H.P Lovecraft-inspired musical – and could do very nicely as a live stage production too.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

ON DVD AND BLU-RAY OCTOBER 22

ON DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND NOVEMBER 5