Indie Movie Review – 8 Found Dead

Sometimes you develop expectations about a film without any real justification. A young woman, Jessie (Jenny Tran), is driving out to a holiday home to prepare it for the new tenants. It is. remote, isolated, and so far off the beaten track that you’d need tracker dogs to find the track let alone the cabin. A quick look around shows a very big axe and a sign which says “Our Happy Place”, however the music playing lets you know that it is going to be a far from happy holiday! She arrives, tidies up, and goes to do some sunbathing while the laundry is running.

That is when we get the first hint of what is going to happen. Beautiful, bikini clad woman lying dozing in the sun. A reminder of the axe. Back to the woman, Jessie, and then we see a shadow of someone raising the axe. Jessie opens her eyes, starts to scream and then…freeze and title! There then follows a few short clips introducing the majority of our dramatis personae. First up is a couple of police officers, Blake and Bobby Miller (Laura Buckles and Patrick Joseph Reiger). While they are currently married their relationship is in trouble and they are arguing over divorce.

I Am Really Excited To Share With You…

Then we are introduced to Sam and Dwayne (Alisha Soper and William Gabriel Grier). Sam is an Instagram influencer or whatever they are called. She is forever on her phone wanging on about her chakras being loose or such like. They are heading off for a weekend away at the remote, desolate holiday home with some friends. This is due to Sam having a big announcement to make on her channel. This is so big that no-one will know until she posts it even Dwayne. He is a reluctant associate in her endeavours and the biggest upset is when he admits he doesn’t actually follow Sam!

The friends they are meeting up with are Carrie and Rickey (Aly Trasher and Eddy Acosta). Carrie is an actor and Rickey is her partner. There is, however, history between Sam and Rickey. When I said that no-one knows what Sam’s announcement that wasn’t strictly true…Rickey knows. He was told a while ago and has kept her secret much to Carrie’s chagrin. So far it seems that none of our three couples are exactly 100% happy. I know that isn’t necessarily unusual but they seem to be  much further away than “just going through a bit of a rough patch”.

…Some Of My Heart Centred Updates.

One couple are at the paper signing stage of a divorce. Another comprise of one person who is more engaged with her followers than with her life partner. Meanwhile the third are made of one of the others’ exes and his partner who has her suspicions about if there are any residual feelings. So that is seven people so far and the title is 8 Found Dead. Enter another couple! Liz and Richard (Roseanne Limeres and Tim Simek). These two are the suspicious, creepy couple who appear at the holiday home claiming to have already booked it.

So now you know what is going to happen…don’t you? Well, to be honest, Everyone has been introduced within the first twenty five minutes but the last hour doesn’t always go the way that you assume it will! There are twists and turns enough to keep you wondering who will be walking out and who will be being carried out. The non-linear timeline is used sparingly but well; you don’t struggle to keep up with where you are in the action. All in all 8 Found Dead is a cleverly written and performed thriller. Available on digital from 23^rd October 2023.

Movie Grade: A-