Devil Town

For many of you there just aren't too many films or programs out anymore that grab the essence of 1950s science fiction so much as the classics that are Invasion of the Body Snatchers and everyone's favorite Twilight Zone series. Modern day audiences do have Black Mirror now, but the focus on technology and futurism may not be the gigantic homage haymaker oldies are clamoring for. However, Director Nick Barrett just so happens to have a little treat that will satisfy your needs for pulp ridden science fiction that might have very well been included in the original Twilight Zone or even the introductory sequence to a bold re-imagination of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. 

We follow Patrick Creedle (Matthew Hebden), a wealthy business man who is all about money and time, as he ventures into a coffee shop. A bum named Driscoll (Johnny Vivash) follows Creedle into the shop. The atmosphere is quite deliberately planned as the barista blankly stares at Creedle with wide eyes and Driscoll stands at the doorway staring at Creedle as well. Driscoll comes into the coffee shop and sits with Creedle and goes on what some would consider a conspiracy theorist rant. 

As Driscoll continues on his downward spiral, some might mistake him for an absolute nutcase as he talks about "Them" and "They" - whatever they may be is unknown, but he speaks about them as if they're slowly taking over the human population. While Creedle knocks off Driscoll's rants as nothing more than mental degradation, it isn't until Driscoll proves himself that Creedle takes the bum seriously and is soon fed a horrible fate. You should have paid more attention to your surroundings than someone being late, bud. 

Either way the homage is still present and Invasion of the Body Snatchers even gets a special mention. Vivash's performance is really what drove the experience as he goes from full blown nut bag to a horrible and unlucky encounter. While the short does leave many questions the premise of it is simple enough that you can piece together what exactly is happening - but who exactly "they" might be is the mystery that has not been answered yet. And that, along with the final screams of Creedle, is where the true horror lies. 

Devil Town has been acquired by Dread Central and Ruthless Pictures to be included in their next anthology series, and will be available to buy via iTunes in 2017. So once it lands I highly recommend you give this piece a watch.