Craving (2023 film)

Last updated
Craving
Craving (2023) poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed byJ. Horton
Written by
Produced by
  • J. Horton
  • Kevin Caliber
  • Ashley Undercuffler
  • Robert Bravo
  • Sean Reid
Starring
  • Rachel Amanda Bryant
  • Al Gomez
  • Gregory Blair
  • Ashley Undercuffler
  • Kevin Caliber
  • Holly Rockwell
  • Xavier Roe
  • Sage Mayer
  • Felissa Rose
Cinematography Sophia Cacciola
Edited byJ. Horton
Music byEverett Young
Production
companies
  • ZapruderFlix
  • World One TV
  • 50 Caliber Productions
  • Sky Island Storytelling
Distributed by Indie Rights
Release date
  • March 8, 2023 (2023-03-08)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000

Craving is a 2023 American horror film directed by J. Horton and starring Rachel Amanda Bryant, Al Gomez, Gregory Blair, Ashley Undercuffler, Kevin Caliber, Holly Rockwell, Xavier Roe, and Felissa Rose. [1] It was released in March 2023 by Indie Rights. [2]

Contents

The film follows heroin addicts who barricade themselves in a country bar after a drug deal goes wrong. As they suffer from withdrawal symptoms and face a siege from outside, they also have to deal with a mysterious threat inside the bar that could destroy them all. Much of the story is told via flashbacks that explain how the various characters arrived at the present standoff.

The film was produced by Kevin Caliber, Ashley Undercuffler, Robert Bravo, and Sean Reid via ZapruderFlix, World One TV, 50 Caliber Productions, and Sky Island Storytelling [3]

Plot

Police officers Shaw and Washington enter a rural bar, The Last Exit, following what appears to be a bloody massacre. They find one female survivor, Shiloh, too scared to speak to them.

Flashing back to the night before, The Last Exit is having a typical evening. Les, the owner and bartender, contends with Rudy, a conspiracy theorist who lusts over Shiloh, the other bartender. Travis, a cowboy and swindler, challenges Rudy to a game of pool but is distracted by local DJ Rylee, who rebuffs his advances. A suspicious man in the corner named Jared watches over the bar before Cece enters. Cece asks to borrow Travis' car, which he is opposed to as Cece is with another man, Frank. Travis relents and Cece does drugs in the bathroom, unaware that John is in one of the stalls. The patrons are startled by the sound of gunshots outside. Les takes a baseball bat to scare of what she assumes are kids with firecrackers, but is shot in the head by the crossfire.

Five violent heroin addicts force their way into the bar: Gail, Mac, Will, Lo, and Frenzy. After they assume control of the bar it becomes apparent that a second group outside is after them. This group wears flesh masks and violently murders Frank after pulling him out of his car. The lieutenant of the group, Red, uses a megaphone to coerce the people inside to give up one of their own, who they deem is a monster, before his group begins barricading the bar. Inside, Shiloh weeps over Les' body, and Gail forces her and the patrons to stand together by the pool table while Mac checks the bar for other entrances. John successfully hides under the bathroom sink. At the bar, Gail watches the group outside over the CCTV, recognizing their leader as Hunter, who removes his mask and taunts the group inside. Will is suffering from withdrawals, worse than any of the others, and he rests behind the bar. The addicts struggle to maintain control over the patrons, leading to Frenzy assaulting Travis and Rudy. Cece plots to turn the addicts against each other, but Frenzy catches on and beats her up in the bathroom.

Through flashbacks it's revealed that a man named Carl rescued Gail from a drug den, and she became the adoptive mother to his adoptive son, Will, who suffered a condition that only heroin would remedy. Mac serves as Carl's number two, and only very recently did the group meet Frenzy and Lo, who are a couple. Lo calms Frenzy's hot demeanor, though Lo herself is deeply disturbed and admits to having murdered animals in her youth. It's revealed that Carl was dating Hunter's ex-wife, and that Hunter is Will's real father. A monster murdered Hunter's ex-wife, leading him down a rabbit hole chasing clue after clue, trying to find this creature. Eventually Hunter discovered what Carl was up to, and after making arrangements with Red's people and secretly colluding with Frenzy to trap Carl's group at The Last Exit, Hunter shot and killed Carl immediately preceding the events of the story.

Inside the bar, tensions between the group escalate. Cece accidentally gets Frenzy to reveal her betrayal to Gail, giving Cece the opportunity to steal Gail's revolver. As Cece attempts to take control of the situation, Lo sneaks up behind her and beats her to death with a pool cue. Exposed, Frenzy and Lo attempt to kill Mac, but Frenzy accidentally shoots Lo. Will is shot in the crossfire, and Gail comforts him until his passes away. Suddenly, Will's body begins to twist and contort, terrifying the patrons of the bar. It is clear that Will is the monster, leading Frenzy and Rylee to attempt to escape. Will fully transforms into a large, slimy creature covered in bodily spikes and sharp teeth protruding from his face. Will immediately rips apart Frenzy before turning on the patrons, killing Jared, Travis, and Rylee. Shiloh tries to hide under a pool table, and Rudy sacrifices himself to save her. Gail attempts to calm Will, hoping underneath the monster that he's still there. Her words fail, and Mac attempts to kill Will before being torn apart himself. The last one standing, Gail succumbs to her death at Will's monstrous hands.

Will finds John hiding in the bathroom and tears him apart before returning to the pool table where Shiloh is hiding. He scratches her arm in an attempt to reach her, but after consuming so much he's become weakened, and Shiloh impales him with the broken pool cue. Will transforms back to normal, apologizing to Shiloh. Before he dies he tells her he became the monster after he was scratched by one. Outside Red sends in Lori and Gerry to investigate the bar. Shiloh stabs Gerry but Lori shoots her. As Lori looms over Shiloh, her eyes transform and she kills Lori. Outside, Hunter and Red are shocked as they see Shiloh, now in monster form, break through the barricades and murder Red and the rest of his group.

Cast

Production

The film raised over $63,000 on Indiegogo. The first version of the script was written in 2010 and the film went into production in 2022. [4]

The special effects and creature design were done by Robert Bravo of Bravo FX. [5]

Actors Al Gomez, Holly Rockwell, Michael Turner Tucker, and Kevin Caliber were de-aged with visual effects by Brook Hubbs for the flashbacks throughout the film. [6]

Release

Craving was released on March 9, 2023, by Indie Rights. [7]

Reception

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and horror fans, who praised its special effects, [8] creature design, [9] look and cinematography, [10] editing, [7] and cast performances. [8] [7] [11] [12] Some reviewers also noted the film's playful depravity that added to its charm. [7] [11] While most reviews were positive, some reviewers were critical of the plot complexity and the number of characters. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bride of Frankenstein</i> 1935 film by James Whale

Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American science fiction horror film, and the first sequel to Universal Pictures' 1931 film Frankenstein. As with the first film, Bride of Frankenstein was directed by James Whale starring Boris Karloff as the Monster and Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein. The sequel features Elsa Lanchester in the dual role of Mary Shelley and the bride. Colin Clive reprises his role as Henry Frankenstein, and Ernest Thesiger plays the role of Doctor Septimus Pretorius. Oliver Peters Heggie plays the role of the old blind hermit.

<i>Earth Girls Are Easy</i> 1988 film by Julien Temple

Earth Girls Are Easy is a 1988 American science fiction musical romantic comedy film that was produced by Tony Garnett, Duncan Henderson, and Terrence E. McNally and was directed by Julien Temple. The film stars Geena Davis, Julie Brown, Charles Rocket, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, and Jim Carrey. The plot is based on the song "Earth Girls Are Easy" from Brown's 1984 EP Goddess in Progress.

<i>The Rainmaker</i> (1997 film) 1997 film by Francis Ford Coppola

The Rainmaker is a 1997 American legal drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola based on John Grisham's 1995 novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mary Kay Place, Mickey Rourke, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Roy Scheider, Virginia Madsen, and Teresa Wright in her final film role.

<i>Paris, Texas</i> (film) 1984 film by Wim Wenders

Paris, Texas is a 1984 neo-Western drama road film directed by Wim Wenders, co-written by Sam Shepard and L. M. Kit Carson, and produced by Don Guest. It stars Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, and Hunter Carson. In the film, disheveled recluse Travis Henderson (Stanton) reunites with his brother Walt (Stockwell) and son Hunter (Carson). Travis and Hunter embark on a trip through the American Southwest to track down Travis's missing wife, Jane (Kinski).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Hodder</span> American actor, stuntman, and author

Kane Warren Hodder is an American actor, stuntman, and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Petty</span> American actress (born 1963)

Lori Petty is an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1990 comedy film Cadillac Man and later starred in films Point Break (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), Free Willy (1993), In the Army Now (1994), The Glass Shield (1994) and played the title role in Tank Girl (1995). She created and starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996 and acted in number of independent and smaller-scale movies in later career.

<i>Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid</i> 2004 American adventure horror film by Dwight H. Little

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid is a 2004 American adventure horror film directed by Dwight H. Little. It is a stand-alone sequel to the film Anaconda (1997) and the second installment of the Anaconda film series. The film follows a team of researchers set for an expedition into the Southeast Asian tropical island of Borneo, to search for a sacred flower which they believe will bring humans to a longer and healthier life. They soon become stalked and hunted by the deadly giant anacondas inhabiting the island.

<i>The Monster Squad</i> 1987 film directed by Fred Dekker

The Monster Squad is a 1987 American horror comedy film directed by Fred Dekker, and written by Dekker and Shane Black. Peter Hyams and Rob Cohen served as executive producers. It was released by TriStar Pictures on August 14, 1987. The film features pastiches of the Universal Monsters, led by Count Dracula. They are confronted by a group of savvy children out to keep them from controlling the world. Although it was financially unsuccessful during its theatrical run and received mixed reviews from critics, the film has gained a positive reception from audiences and has become a cult classic in the years since its release.

<i>The Guardian</i> (2006 film) 2006 film by Andrew Davis

The Guardian is a 2006 American action-adventure drama film directed by Andrew Davis. The film stars Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. The title of the film refers to a legendary figure within the film which protects people lost at sea: "the Guardian". The film focuses on the United States Coast Guard and their Aviation Survival Technician program. The Guardian was released on September 29, 2006.

<i>Transylvania 6-5000</i> (1985 film) 1985 horror comedy film directed by Rudy De Luca

Transylvania 6-5000 is a 1985 horror comedy film about two tabloid reporters who travel to modern-day Transylvania to uncover the truth behind Frankenstein sightings. Along the way, they encounter other horror film staples—a mummy, a werewolf, a vampire—each with a twist.

<i>Feast</i> (2005 film) 2005 American horror comedy film

Feast is a 2005 American action horror comedy film directed by John Gulager, produced by Michael Leahy, Joel Soisson, Larry Tanz and Andrew Jameson. It was written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan and stars Balthazar Getty, Henry Rollins, Navi Rawat, Judah Friedlander, Jenny Wade, Gulager's father Clu Gulager, Josh Zuckerman and Jason Mewes. The story revolves around a group of people gathered inside a local bar in Nevada, where they are suddenly attacked by a horde of monstrous creatures.

<i>The Prey</i> (1983 film) 1983 American film

The Prey is a 1983 American slasher film directed by Edwin Brown, and starring Debbie Thureson, Steve Bond, Lori Lethin, and Jackie Coogan. It follows a group of campers in the Rocky Mountains who are stalked and murdered by a disfigured assailant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Nelson</span> American actress and model (1933–2020)

Dixie Kay Nelson, known professionally as Lori Nelson, was an American actress and model mostly active in the 1950s and early 1960s. She had roles in the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire and the films Revenge of the Creature, All I Desire, and I Died a Thousand Times.

<i>Hack!</i> 2007 American film

Hack! is a 2007 American horror film directed and written by Matt Flynn. The film centres on a group of students who, while on a field trip, become victims in a snuff film, and stars Danica McKellar, Jay Kenneth Johnson, William Forsythe, Sean Kanan, Juliet Landau, Justin Chon, Travis Schuldt, Adrienne Frantz and Gabrielle Richens. The film was released in the UK on July 20, 2007, before receiving a US release on December 11, 2007.

<i>The Walking Dead</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 14, 2012, and concluded on March 31, 2013, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Mazzara as showrunner for his second and final season. The third season was very well received by critics. It was nominated for multiple awards and won two, including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series, at the 39th Saturn Awards.

<i>Screamland</i> Comic Book Series

Screamland is an independent comic book series that was created by Harold Sipe and Héctor Casanova. The series was first launched as a five issue miniseries in 2008 and was followed by a second five-issue miniseries, Death of the Party, in 2011. Both miniseries were released through Image Comics. Sipe served as the writer for both miniseries and Héctor Casanova worked as the artist for the 2008 miniseries and as the cover artist for Death of the Party.

<i>Raw</i> (film) 2016 film by Julia Ducournau

Raw is a 2016 coming-of-age body horror drama film written and directed by Julia Ducournau, and starring Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, and Rabah Nait Oufella. The plot follows a young vegetarian's first year at veterinary school, where she tastes meat for the first time and develops a craving for human flesh.

<i>Master</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film

Master is a 2022 American psychological black horror thriller film written and directed by Mariama Diallo in her directorial debut. The film stars Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, and Amber Gray.

<i>Welcome to Willits</i> 2016 film by Trevor Ryan

Welcome to Willits is a 2016 American science fiction comedy horror film directed by Trevor Ryan and starring Bill Sage, Sabina Gadecki, Anastasia Baranova, Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Dekker, Chris Zylka, Serge Levin, Garrett Clayton and Rory Culkin.

<i>The Quarry</i> (video game) 2022 video game

The Quarry is a 2022 interactive drama horror game developed by Supermassive Games and published by 2K. Players assume control of nine teenage counselors who must survive their last night at Hackett's Quarry summer camp amongst supernatural creatures and violent locals. Players make many choices throughout the game which may significantly affect character development, relationships, the story's plot, and its ending. All nine playable characters may survive or die, depending on the player's decisions.

References

  1. ↑ Blacktooth (16 January 2023). "J. Horton's Horror Film, Craving Coming Spring 2023 From Indie Rights". Horror Society. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Chewie (15 January 2023). "Craving Coming Spring 2023 From Indie Rights". Scare Tissue.
  3. ↑ Blacktooth (12 February 2023). "Official Trailer: J. Horton's 'Craving'". Horror Society. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Joy, Mike (6 January 2023). "Exclusive Interview: J. Horton (Craving)". Horror News. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ↑ Morazzini, Jim. "Craving (2023) Review". Voices from the Balcony. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "BTS Reel - Craving". Instagram. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 LePire, Bobby (7 March 2023). "Craving". Film Threat . Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 Propes, Richard. "Movie Review: Craving". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  9. ↑ Horror, Rev (7 March 2023). "Craving". The Horror Revolution. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  10. ↑ Blackadder, Ed (7 March 2023). "Craving (2023) Review". Influx Magazine. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 Dossey, Evan (5 March 2023). "Craving". Midwest Film Journal.
  12. ↑ Lawrence, Vicky (2023-04-24). "CRAVING". Starburst . Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  13. ↑ Carr, Andy (7 March 2023). "Craving". Film Yap. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  14. ↑ Bell, Josh (2023-03-07). "VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) on Demand This Week". Crooked Marquee. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.