Stoker Hills is one of those films which is a bit like watching a drunk octopus juggling; there are all manner of things up in the air and you’re never sure where and when they’re going to land. There were some good things, some less than good things, some interesting, some not so interesting.
First off is the shot that tells us what’s going on. Stoker Hills is one of the “found footage” sub-genre. After the studio idents there is an almost abstract shot of a flat service reflecting some blurred, flashing lights. A few seconds later and a fireman’s boot steps into frame showing an extreme Dutch angle.
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
The fireman has seen that the camera was dropped and picked it up. We then fast rewind through the footage that has been shot and, even though the scene only lasts about twenty seconds, there is a fairly constant stream of violence and mayhem. The end point is in a lecture theatre, sitting a few rows back.
Giving the lecture is Tony Todd, one of the very good things about Stoker Hills. As soon as you see Tony Todd you know that you’re in for something interesting. He is Professor Smith and is delivering a lecture on film makers and techniques. Unfortunately, the lecture is over in under five minutes and we don’t see much more of Mr Todd.
No Mike, It’s Not The Same Log!
For me, it was a reminder of missed opportunities. About eighteen months ago I got the chance to review a film called Immortal. Along with the chance to watch and write about it there was a chance to interview none other than Tony Todd himself! Sadly, Immortal was only the third independent film I’d reviewed and I’d never interviewed anybody, let alone a genuine star, so I panicked and missed out.
Anyway, back to Stoker Hills. After Professor Smith’s lecture the story starts properly. It is about a group of film students and they, obviously, they have to make a film as part of their coursework. This introduces us to the usual group of middle aged actors playing teenage students. To be honest, though, they aren’t too bad; I’ve seen worse!
The directors of Streetwalkers, a cross between Pretty Woman and The Walking Dead, are Ryan (David Gridley) and Jake (Vince Hill-Bedford), and their star is Erica (Steffani Brass). The star pupil of the class, and their rival, is Dani (Tyler Clark).
I’m Scared To Close My Eyes, I’m Scared To Open Them!
Then there is the usual students buggering around making a film scene complete with concerned parent making his views clear about his daughter playing a prostitute. So far, so very much like so many other films. Then things go wrong and the video camera ends up in the hands of the investigating officers.
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
This is a great app. I wish more people would support it
This app provides info about movies, reviews, ratings from people who have seen it before and after viewing. It has links to info about the movies. It let’s you know when there will be a lull in the action and how long it will last. If you want to know what happens during that time, you can check the brief synopsis (you have to click a link, so no accidental spoilers). It has a timer you can set (silent) to alert you to a break. It also tells you whether there is anything extra during or after the credits. It’s really a wonderful app. I’ve subscribed for a couple of years to support the developers, but I noticed some of the links to provide feedback didn’t seem to work today. They also made it free, with voluntary donations to see the pee-times. If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to do so, and subscribe if you like it. I really hope the app is supported so it can continue to be maintained!
Developers note: RunPee doesn’t make much money but it supports itself nicely. Donations are appreciated, but not required. We’ll add as many movies to the database as we can until there are no more movie theaters.
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
They are Detective Stafford (William Lee Scott) and Detective Adams (Eric Etebari). They roll back through the, as yet, unseen footage and start retracing the events of the previous evening.
From then on the story is, very much, one that has been seen many times before. Despite that Stoker Hills is well worth a look. There are the inevitable “don’t be ludicrous, they wouldn’t do that” scenes but they aren’t as outrageous as some I’ve seen and do, kind of, fit in with the overall feel of the film. I must admit that the ending did come as a surprise. Obviously, I’m not going to spoil it for you but it was a turn up for the books!
Movie Grade: B-
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Red One, Venom: The Last Ride , Transformers One, The Wild Robot and coming soon Wicked, Gladiator II, Moana 2 and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply