The Leech (2022) FrightFest Review
From Eric Pennycoff, the writer/director of SADISTIC INTENTIONS, and starring FrightFest favourite Graham Skipper (THE MIND’S EYE), comes a terrifying battle of wills. Father David is a devout priest who lives by the bible’s doctrine to be a Good Samaritan at all times. So he is more than happy to welcome a struggling homeless couple into his house during the season of goodwill. But what begins as a simple act of kindness and Christmas charity quickly becomes the ultimate test of faith once the sanctity of his home is jeopardised.
There’s much to enjoy with writer/director Eric Pennycoff’s second film. Both the comedy and horror elements gel terrifically, and whilst two upstarts picking apart a religious man’s faith makes for both an easy and obvious target, THE LEECH never takes the easy and obvious route, constantly surprising the viewer, ramping up the tension towards a climax that pays off deliciously.
Jeremy Gardner is the most agreeable that I have ever found him, with a performance that reminded me of Michael Keaton’s BEETLEJUICE, and that’s not bad, in fact it’s a very good thing. Rounding out the main trio both Graham Skipper (as Father David, what a cutie!) and Taylor Zaudtke (as Terry’s partner in crime Lexi), bring their ‘A’ game, creating very well and very believable characters rather than caricatures.