New Fears Eve is directed by P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson and the cast includes Felissa Rose, Hannah Fierman, Dave Sheridan, Jeffrey Reddick, Lily-Claire Harvey, Sonya Delormier, Jay Woolston, Alyssa Rhoads, Jason Crowe, Roni Jonah, Matthew Tichenor, Collin Horn, Gina Parker, Turner Vaughn, Jesse McDonald.
My Thoughts on New Fears Eve
Why are there so few New Year’s-themed horror movies?
Well, if you are in the mood for one, we have a new New Year's themed horror movie that recently released called New Fears Eve, where a small group of coworkers at a company with a horrible boss are gearing up for the company’s annual New Year’s Eve party, though not everyone is invited as some people were recently laid off.
But before anyone has a chance to relax with champagne and party hats, a killer begins hunting them down - yes, it’s a classic slasher setup, but the New Year’s backdrop gives it a slightly different flavor.
The story hits the all the familiar beats you expect from a holiday slasher, and features some scenes that work well, both visually and in terms of suspense, where the tension builds in some of the kills, and the plague doctor as a villain has a creepy, unnerving presence, and most of the cast commits fully to their roles, which helps sell the story even when the dialogue falters slightly.,
New Fears Eve though does lean heavily into clichés with the characters, and I found it quite hard to care about anyone in particular,, but I kind of enjoyed that in a way, because it made the murder scenes more satisfying in a darkly humorous sense, and it's the death scenes themselves are where the film really shines, because they are pretty good!
I especially liked the practical effects, as they feel tactile and messy in a way that actually added to the horror experience., and there’s a certain joy in watching a slasher commit to its kills, and New Fears Eve delivers on that front.
It’s clear a lot of thought went into the direction, the pacing, and the design of the kills, but it's hard not to keep noticing how certain beats followed familiar horror patterns, which in a fun slasher maybe doesn't matter too much, but I would have liked it to not feel that familiar.
But, attempting a New Year’s-themed slasher is a niche endeavor, and I can’t fault anyone for trying to fill that gap, and the performances are quite good to be fair, along with the kills, and there’s an energy to the film that keeps it moving.
I can see fans of slashers appreciating it, especially those who enjoy the practical effects and the inventive kills, and for me I enjoyed parts of it and wasn't one I regretted watching.
Which is always good.