Film Review: RISE of the GARGOYLES (2009)

I could say that this is just another low budget horror film that you should just pass right over but I'm not going to. I found Rise of the Gargoyles (2009) a very well done little low budget gem because everyone does a great job at crafting a fun and entertaining film. This could have easily become just another monster-of-the-week film but this is that rare occasion when a low budget monster film does actually accomplish what it should.

Eric Balfour is Professor Jack Randall who teaches about architecture at a London university when one of his best friends shows him an old building that's about to be demolished. This building is known for its old gargoyle façade and the fact that several construction workers recently went missing. When Jack goes into the building he becomes aware of a hidden passage way to artifacts and statues that seem to have some unknown religious purpose. It is not soon before Jack realizes that the building was a prison for an ancient demon gargoyle whose sole purpose is to repopulate its kind. Now Jack with the help of the local tabloid news crew and a fanatical priest must find a way to kill the gargoyle before it has the chance to give birth to an army of its kind.

Simple plot. Very simple plot yet screenwriter Andy Biggs brings a lot of humor and action to the material. He is aware of the genre that this film inhabits and he's not afraid to exploit and have fun with it. This is helped by director Bill Corcoran and the excellent cast lead by Balfour, who looks like he's in on the joke and having fun all the way through the film which is half the battle for most of these low budget films. It's so easy for these types of films to spend a lot of money for a name actor but it's harder to find an actor who will do these types of films and look like they're having fun as they're doing them. This film succeeds because the audience is having as much fun as the actors in the film.

The CGI is just passable which is fine since Corcoran plays it smart and keeps the gargoyle mostly in the shadows for much of the film. The film also doesn't shy away from the red stuff. There is no gore in this film but a lot of people do get killed and the film does a great job of presenting it. Overall this is one of those films that you don't mind watching on a Saturday night with a bag of popcorn and a giant cup of your favorite drink with your friends (who also love these types of films).

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