Has there ever been a town cursed more times than Salem? Of course, when you take into account the atrocities that occurred there towards the end of the 17th century, it does make sense. The Salem Chronicles sees a detective return home following the death of his mother. Before long ancient grudges, dark rituals, and a deadly secret take over the lives of him and his wife.
The Salem Chronicles begins with a series of shots of the memorial to the victims from the infamous witch trials. Shot on location, the film brings an authenticity not often seen in indie productions. Even in the most innocuous moments, there is a gloomy undertone. The autumny look successfully adds to the tone.
What unfolds is a traditional Salem witch story. The cold open sees a woman accused of witchcraft before being hung on the spot. Her husband is crushed under stones and curses the town. Flash forward to present day, and the plot begins. The Salem Chronicles says it is putting a modern spin on the story, but it is not anything that has not been seen many times before.
There is nothing wrong with using the Salem witch trials as the backdrop for a creepy horror story. And The Salem Chronicles does a decent job with it. The make-up effects are understated, but work in the context of the movie. There are some good blood effects and a good looking kill involving an axe to the head.
The cracks are on the production side of things, which start early and reappear often. The hanging in the beginning is one of the unintentionally funniest ever filmed. The victim simply tilts her head to the side as if taking a rest. There is no slight drop, no snapping or similar sound effect, not even a gasp from anyone in attendance. It just happens and the director decided to keep it in.
Similar things happen throughout The Salem Chronicles. A random person walks in the background during one of the shots, a main character botches their line and just repeats it, the picture just freezes in place. Even one of the most climatic moments is affected by what looks like a computer screen glitch. It’s funny, but it also takes away from an otherwise fine watch. Maybe it was cursed.
The Salem Chronicles is available on digital an On Demand.
