Horror anthologies always walk a thin line. It only takes one strong story to make one a classic. On the flip side, there are also more opportunities to lose the audience. That being said, even the worst ones tend to be fun. Scare Package is a comedy horror anthology that was made with a clear love for the genre. Seven writers tell seven different stories. Each segment visits a difference trope.
One issue with anthologies is consistency. With so many different people be working together, this is bound to happen. Even the presence of a wraparound story rarely hides this problem. This is never a problem in Scare Package. Each segment manages to convey the same atmosphere. This is partially due to the comedic tone and heavy use of gore. Each story is also unafraid to wear their references on their sleeves. But the movie is more about winking knowingly to the audience.
Each story in the film manages to engage its audience through intrigue. Tension may be too strong a word and Scare Package is not a frightfest. Instead, it builds its stories through atmosphere and characters. Each story presents situations that anyone watching will want to see more of. These are all cases where too much plot can be a hindrance.
The framing story of Scare Package also does a great job of tying everything together. Chad is the owner of Rad Chad’s Horror Emporium. Using some of the wares at the Emporium, Chad is training the newest employee. It seems like it would get stale, but it never does as the overarching tale has interesting characters and developments.
The movie is filled with great make up effects. This is seen across all of the segments and really stands out in the the first short, “One Time in the Woods”. The reliance on practical effects is a welcome throwback to the films Scare Package is paying homage to. It is also an example of using special effects to add to a film’s atmosphere instead of drawing attention away from them.
Scare Package is an incredibly fun comedy horror anthology. The movie lovingly revisits the tropes of the genre while still telling stories that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. It is funny and always knows who and what to focus on. As expected, some segments are not as strong as others, but nothing takes away from the enjoyment of the film.
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