Reviewed by Neil Davey
Stars Mike Vogel, Jaime Murray, Christina Cole, Michael Feast, Charlie Anson,
Michael Dixon, George Dillon, Andrew Buchan, Bill Nash | Written by Brendan Hood
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £14.99| DVD Region 2 | Runtime 83 minutes | Directed by Dario Piana
Ever had one of those days? Ian Stone (Vogel) has. In face, he's had several of those days, one after the other and all have ended the same way. With Ian dying. And it appears that he's cursed to die again and again at the hands of some nasty demons / angels of death / shadowy figures / low budget special effects until he can work out why the nasty demons / angels of death / shadowy etc. are after him.
The Deaths of Ian Stone is the sort of horror that you'd normally associate with the Far East. However this one, while it has an American lead and an Italian director — and an in-film geography that's muddled to say the least — is basically a British-shot venture. If that fills you with terror for all the wrong reasons, there's one large glimmer of hope — if you can have a large glimmer, of course — when you cast an eye further down the credits. One of the producers is Stan Winston. And yes, it is THAT Stan Winston, the one whose name gets fanboys salivating. Winston typically doesn't associate himself with rubbish and, while The Deaths of Ian Stone is no classic, it's not bad. It's certainly better than any number of horrors which get a proper release so it's a shame to see it consigned to the 'straight to DVD' banner because it really doesn't deserve the taint that still carries.
The apparent lack of budget does lead to some unfortunately amusing background detail, such as ice hockey star Ian dropping off his girlfriend Jenny (Cole) at her parents' sprawling US house... in a car with a UK registration. Or, indeed, the tube journey that sees Ian and Jenny desperately fleeing the beasties from Charing Cross to, er, Charing Cross – and via Green Park, Baker Street. It's a minor problem in the great scheme of things, but it's remarkable how much they jar.
It's let down some by the sentimentality of the climax — and Ian's sudden growth of what can only be described as flowing 'heroic' hair — but, for the most part, Piana's film rattles along, providing intrigue, some genuinely squirmy moments and a fine twist. Plus, if you'll permit me a little testosterone moment, Jaime Murray in a red leather cat suit.
EXTRAS None.