All Hallow’s Eve brings out the best of the entertainment spectrum, with dark fantasy, young adult, slasher and thriller themes filling movie theaters and streaming services, horror comedy might be the most overlooked subgenre of them all, and for good reason. Comedy can be quite difficult for some and when paired with a tricky topic, the whole thing could quickly fall flat, which is not ideal, especially during Halloween… seems like the perfect time to escape to the Weekend at the End of the World.
Multi-hyphenate filmmaker Gille Klabin brings this timely tale to life, as a well-intentioned best bud’s weekend gets catastrophic consequences really quickly. Dealing with an unexpected breakup, Karl (played by Clay Elliott) takes a road trip with Miles (Cameron Fife) in hopes to forget his relationship troubles. What begins with a booze-filled party at an isolated cabin in the woods that’s partially burned down takes an unexpected supernatural turn, as Miles’ previously deceased Meemaw (Troian Bellisario) gets resurrected, and a dimensional rift threatens the existence of every living creature on planet Earth.
It’s at this moment when Miles realizes his grandmother has been preparing him his whole life to become a hero. So, will he actually step up to the plate when he’s needed the most? Teaming with Karl and the creepy, overly friendly neighbor, Hank (Thomas Lennon), the trio travel through the portal in order to claim their destiny and hopefully destroy the darkness.
“This is your cosmic purpose. You are going to save the world…”
Weekend at the End of the World begins as a buddy comedy and quickly transitions into a supernatural horror comedy. As a mythical quest falls into their laps in order to fully stop an impending darkness, the devil is in the details, literally! But since our main characters never fully question the true intentions of an undead ghost witch until it’s too late, the full scope of the narrative feels a bit incomplete. That it’s being told by an unreliable narrator isn’t helpful, either.
The film’s main theme is all about doing the right thing, making sacrifices and fulfilling your true destiny in life, all of which comes from two characters that feel authentic, even when dealing with a side of supernatural activity. Both Karl and Miles must endure a harsh reality check, in terms of where their lives are headed. They are relatable, as just about everyone has hoped to be able to communicate with loved ones who have passed over into the afterlife at least once in their life.
“Sometimes, I feel like the joke of my family…”
Despite The Allness (the realm between realities) being a little confusing, our heroes finally take control of their lives after dealing with some freaky shit. No tricks, this is an enjoyable seasonal treat. And I was shocked when I learned a little about its development process!
Made for under $300,000, Weekend at the End of the World was entirely shot in just 12 days — that’s unimaginable as out-of-control Hollywood feature films waste much more money and time for a product that doesn’t always deliver at the box office. And every member of the cast and crew worked for drastically reduced rates, taking equity in the film, while betting on themselves. Self-distributed worldwide, Weekend at the End of the World has been reaching a variety of audiences by hitting the film-festival circuit, with upcoming stops announced for the Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival, the St. Louis International Film Festival, the South Carolina Underground Film Festival and San Francisco’s Another Hole in the Head festival, as well.
I enjoyed my Weekend at the End of the World and hope you get the chance to witness this quality indie movie that can be found somewhere on the supernatural spectrum.
“You look like a haunted hot dog…”