They call this the start of a new classic horror series, but I’m not buying it. Sure, this movie spawned three sequels, but it’s not exactly ground breaking.

In New Orleans for Mardi Gras, a group of friends decide to take a haunted bus/swamp tour when things take a deadly turn. On the boat tour, they are told about a local legend involving a deformed child, known as Victor Crowley, who used to live in a house in the swamp. The boat sinks, stranding the tourists in the middle of the swamp. What could go wrong?

Victor Crowley emerges to stalk and kill everyone on the tour in true slasher fashion, because he’s a territorial and vengeful bastard.

This movie is one gigantic homage to the iconic horror movie serieses of the 80s including: Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. You’ve got a badass supernatural villain character stalking and murdering 20-something idiots in the woods/swamp. They even cast Kane Hodder (played Jason Voorhees a few times) as Victor Crowley.

The deaths were some of the most gruesome I’ve seen. Dismemberment, belt-sanding, hatchet hacking, and impalement. Lots of blood and body parts.

It ends very abruptly and you’re left feeling like: “meh.”

Rating:

Currently available to stream for free with ads on Vudu