SXSW Review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is a Non-Stop Gorefest Party

Dark Lullabies is a 2023 horror anthology film by Michael Coulombe consisting of nine tales creating a run time of 94 minutes; Dark Lullabies can be found on the Tubi Streaming Service. The film’s tagline, “Guaranteed to tuck you in and rock you to sleep,” is clever and suitable. I am a sucker for anthology films and series, so I was very excited to check this out. I had seen a few of the short stories already, but it was a real treat to revisit these gems.

So let’s dive right into it; this isn’t a film loaded with special effects, so if that is what you’re looking for, you may want to wait for the new Transformer film to release this year. Dark Lullabies is a film that allowed its creators to spread their wings and produce content, which I am sure was on a shoestring budget.

I’ve heard that the most popular obstacles for any production are time and money. Out of the nine tales, a few have an emotional hold over me, for many reasons, from the story, the acting, and the direction. A similar trait that these horror tales held was that I wanted to see each as a feature, as I felt there was more story to tell, and now it was up to me to use my imagination to fill in the blanks, which is never a negative.

Before I get into what I specifically enjoyed, I will point out a few flaws I had with the overall film. I understand at times, because of the powers that be, certain decisions are made, it is out of reach for the creative minds, and they can’t specifically make certain decisions. I believe the entire film would have flowed better if the title cards were placed at the beginning of each segment (some were). This would avoid confusion about one segment ending and another beginning; at times, the viewer may think they are still on the same segment because of the transition.

Lastly, I would have liked to have seen some creepy or slapstick funny host; some of my favorite anthologies had horror hosts, and I believe it would have added that final gloss over to the film. None of this was a deal breaker, just something I would have liked to have seen. I enjoyed all of the segments in Dark Lullabies; there are a few that I would like to mention specifically.

“Dark Lullabies is a culmination of 9 of my short horror films; each segment dealing with the horrors cause by people and the choices they make. Horror is not always a monster or a man in a mask. Jealousy, ego, abuse, cruelty, cheating..there are all kinds of subtle messages throughout Dark Lullabies.” – Director Michael Coulombe.

Segment – ‘Love Me Not.”

First up is the segment “Love Me Not.” I was particularly keen on this one because actress Vanessa Esperanza seamlessly delivered a lengthy monologue for nearly the segment’s duration. Jenny has experienced a broken heart countless times but will teach all her ex-boyfriends a deadly lesson on Valentine’s Day. I would have loved to have seen more of the story focusing on where Jenny’s story began and what the final straw was bringing this character to her breaking point. This segment was well-written and directed.

Segment – “Bag of Tricks.”

Second, on my list is “Bag of Tricks.” With a run time of sixteen minutes, this segment delivers a satisfying blend of terror, exceptional acting, and cinematography that’s on point and makes for that perfect story to tell on Halloween. This will satisfy your Halloween craving and is watchable any time of the year.

The segment focuses on a couple answering an ordinary Halloween evening knock at the door, turning the night into a chilling ordeal for both lovers as they meet Timmy, the ghost. I must say, the presence of the ghost costume is downright hair-raising! I hope that at some point, Writer Brantly Brown and Director Michael Coulombe will deliver us a feature, as I know so much more can be told.

Segment – “Silhouette”

My third mention is “Silhouette.” It is amazing how being polite to someone could have paid off for the gentleman in this segment. With a run time of about eight minutes, Silhouette delivers a powerful punch, and again, the concept, if expanded on, I believe would make a great feature. I am always in the mood for a good ghost story!

Segment – “Stalk.”

My fourth and final mention is “Stalk.” This story was clever and simple, which made it very unnerving. Do you ever feel as though someone is following you? What would you do if that was your reality and someone was stalking you? Would you run, hide, or fight back? Stalk will be sure to leave your appetite howling for more!

Dark Lullabies is a decent anthology that allows these talented individuals to showcase their art, and I hope to see more of this in the future. From the planning, coordination and management, directing, and editing, I know a lot of heart and thought went into producing each of these nine shorts. Remember to check Dark Lullabies out on Tubi.

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