DVD Review: Hi-8: Horror Independent Eight

Hi-8: Horror Independent Eight is an anthology of eight horror films that were shot on Hi-8 and similar video formats. It opens like an old videocassette that was just popped into a player, with lines across the screen, and then a jumpy warning: “The following motion picture is not intended for young eyes” and so on, setting up the tone and goals right from the start. The short films, in large part, embrace the low-budget, cheesy aspect of the format.

The eight shorts vary in quality, with the best three being “The Tape,” “Gang Them Style” and “The Scout.” In “The Tape,” two guys in a video store talk about the glory days of videocassettes, and one of them, Tim, takes home a box of cassettes, including Bloodgasm. He soon becomes mesmerized by that movie, engrossed in it even when his girlfriend, Phoebe, shows up to have sex with him. Tim wants to find a way to release the film, and goes to meet the actor who played the killer. I like that when the actor answers his door wearing a horror mask, neither Tim nor Phoebe is put off by it. And now that actor wants to finish the film. “The Tape” was directed by Tony Masiello.

“Gang Them Style” is kind of delightfully goofy. In this one, R.J. (Wes Reid) goes to see his nana at the nursing home, while zombies attack people outside. R.J. is a faux-tough guy, and he tries to rescue all the old folks at the nursing home. It’s cute and silly, with an appropriate 1980s-type score. One of the nursing home patients quotes Star Wars, They Live and Night Of The Living Dead. And we learn that the elderly make the slowest zombies. “Gang Them Style” was directed by Ron Bonk.

“The Scout” is about a couple driving out into the desert to scout a location for a movie. On their way out there, Madison (Alexis Codding) learns she earned a callback for another film, and needs to get back to Los Angeles by 5 p.m. But when it’s time to return, their car won’t start, and their frustration leads to an argument. This film has a bit of dialogue about the Hi-8 format, and also a reference to KC & The Sunshine Band. It features a nice location and some decent acting from both leads. “The Scout” was written and directed by Brad Sykes.

“A Very Bad Situation” features some good horror special effects makeup, but seems to end suddenly and way too soon. “Thicker Than Water” is about a jealous girlfriend, who is nutty and also pregnant. Talk about horror! “Switchblade Insane” is narrated by the wife of a rapist/serial killer, and she tells us how she learned of her husband’s hobby. “The Request” is about a late-night DJ who gets an odd call from a woman. It is awkward in its handling of exposition, and includes the old bit where an unplugged phone rings. The weakest of the shorts is “Genre Bending,” which is just stupid and includes a fat girl on a trampoline for no reason (“Well, I might as well bounce”).

In addition to the eight short films, there is a wraparound segment, which begins the film, and then continues after each short. That wraparound segment starts with a girl slowly jogging up a dirty path, and when a masked man jumps out to attack her, it is revealed that some kids are shooting a home-made movie on Hi-8. The girl asks why they’re using this old camera, perhaps anticipating the question of this movie’s audience.

The end credits include the rules the filmmakers had to abide by for this experiment.

Special Features

The DVD includes a commentary track by writer/director/producer Brad Sykes and producer Josephina Sykes. They discuss the origins of the project (including the title), and the parameters, as well as giving information on each of the filmmakers. The one weakness of “The Tape” is the video store set, and they do discuss the reasons behind that. Brad talks about shooting the wraparound segment in Griffith Park in the area where the Independent Shakespeare Company performs in the summer. What’s cool is that it was attending Shakespeare performances that introduced him to that location. And he actually uses one of the Independent Shakespeare Company’s members for a role in that segment (if you live in L.A., you likely enjoyed André Martin as Tranio in this year’s production of The Taming Of The Shrew).

The DVD also includes The 8 Simple Rules Of Hi-8, a featurette on the making of the film. This is basically interviews with producer/director Brad Sykes and producer Josephina Sykes. They talk about how the project came about, and talk about each of the directors involved in this project. The special features also include a teaser trailer, a photo gallery, and three short promotional clips.

Hi-8: Horror Independent Eight was released on DVD on December 16, 2014 through Wild Eye Releasing.