Hell-ephone (2009) - By Nic Brown

Film Reviews: Hell-ephone (2009) - By Nic Brown
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 @ 00:05:00 Mountain Daylight Time by Duane

Most people enjoy a good prank, but what happens when a joke crosses the line? In writer/director George Bonilla’s film HELL-EPHONE, a charismatic professor of psychology nicknamed “The Circuit Maker” (Ari Lehman) recruits students into his strange club. As an experiment in control and influence, he has his recruits do extensive research into the lives of the recently deceased. Then they call the departed’s funeral and try to convince the poor recipient of their call that they are the dead person calling from beyond the grave.

The idea of the “game” goes beyond a simple bit of fun for bored students and they are emboldened by a successful call that gains them national media attention. Now the Circuit Maker and his protégés have a new target to “Hell-ephone”: the funeral of the most prolific serial killer in history, a man known as “The Sea Monster”. The call works all too well, resulting in the killer’s mother dying of a heart attack at the shock of it.

When the students in the Circuit Maker’s little club begin dying though, it is up to Detective XXXXXXXXXX (Billy Blackwell), the man who stopped the Sea Monster years before, to figure out if it is a copycat killer or if the Sea Monster has come back from the grave to avenge the death of his mother.

George Bonilla’s HELL-EPHONE is a good indy thriller/slasher flick. The premise of the story is original and the plot is more complicated than it first might appear, without going over the top. Another strong point for the film is the cast. Billy Blackwell’s performance as Detective XXXXXXXX is particularly good as he brings depth and true emotion to the character. Also worth mentioning are actors Jason Crowe as XXXXXXX and Katie Stanley as XXXXXXX., both of whom give great performances.The production also brings in a number of indy film staple actors such as Alex Del Monacco, John Dugan, Jim O’Rear and Ari Lehman, all appearing in small roles.

HELL-EPHONE is the seventh feature film from George Bonilla and his independent film company, ZP International Pictures. Many of the actors have worked with ZP on some or even all of their previous projects and that, coupled with Bonilla’s experience, allows the filmmakers to create a fun movie with good special effects, gore and a story, all on a shoestring budget. HELL-EPHONE does have its weak points; at times the plot is a little too complicated for its own good, and the twist at the end may leave some people disappointed, but over all it is a solid film that fans of horror and thrillers will find enjoyable to watch. So check out George Bonilla’s HELL-EPHONE and don’t take that call when it comes in during aunt Petunia’s funeral; you may not like who is on the other end of the line.