DEATH CYCLE
***
Directed by Gabriel Carrer.
Starring Matthew Ninaber, Kristen Kaster, Sasha Ormond.
Horror, US, 80 minutes.
Reviewed as part of FrightFest 2025 - World Premiere
As anyone who's seen his previous film FOR THE SAKE OF VICIOUS knows, Gabriel Carrer is especially good at shooting two certain things: violence and people riding motorbikes. Imagery containing those two aspects, often together, is on copious display throughout this film that is very different from that previous film. While a tale of revenge, this is a more slow burn type of film.
Concerning the horrific aftermath of a hit and run accident, the perpetrators, a rich family with ties to organised crime, soon begin to be picked off by a leather clad and black helmeted motorcyclist who enacts their vengeance in true head-stomping fashion. Estranged from his famliy, journalist Luca,played by Matthew Ninaber, who may be more familiar for his titular turn as PSYCHO GOREMAN, returns home to investigate the grisly killings, interviewing the one survivor from the accident that started this cycle of violence, the near crippled Abby, who may know more about he killings than she is letting on.
With its leather clad killers, inventive and sadistic death scenes and colour drenched photography, the nods to giallo cinema are numerous and give the films already stylish edge an extra dimension. However there is a severe lack of plot and a mystery that is given away early on that is still easily guessable if you missed the giveaway at the beginning. While low in budget, Carrer's ultra stylish direction dazzles the viewer that it's easy to give the film a break for its storyteling shortcomings. The visual verve is complimented by strong and convincing performances but the films sudden ending seems to suggest that this could be the opening act or set-up for another entry. If so, bring it on. If not, then its pleasing mixture of giallo trappings and 21st century style make for a fast, fun and bloody 80 minutes.
Iain MacLeod