Necropath Review: An Homage To Grindhouse Films

Release date: January 9, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Starring: Moe Isaac, Nathan Faudree,Cassandra Hayes, Lillian Colvin, Natalie Colvin and Shain Hence
Written and Directed By: Joshua Reale

Encompassing many elements relating to issues happening in today’s world, the Grindhouse-style piece tells of a mysterious virus, plague, and pharmaceutical drug conspiracy that erupts over a city causing a pandemic. In the midst of the chaos, a mentally deranged maniac seeks to fulfill continuous addiction and vengeful murder, despite the imminent demise of society happening around him. The story leads to a family being destroyed leaving an abandoned little girl to save her baby sister.

Necropath is very much in the grindhouse tradition of films and looks and feels like it from the get go.  With a shaky cam, somewhat extreme violence, and effects to give the movie film grain and a lower quality camera, this film is an homage to this style of movie. But that can hurt this as the movie feels like a relic from another time.  It has dramatic music that plays throughout the movie, and often sounds like the same track is playing throughout.  It has a dark, dramatic style throughout but also has a red filter on at night that makes a lot of the scenes feel similar.  And the film has a plot that doesn't seem to have much going on, but goes from one set piece to the next in this wild night.  But what it does have going for it is Moe Isaac as the tweaker Scag, who gives his all for this role.  He has to contort himself and go through wild mood swings throughout and he does a great job as a drug addict / zombie.

But Necropath also has some odd choices.  For one, often when a loud sound would happen, such as a crash, slice, or a scream, it is just conspicuously missing from the movie.  I imagine this is an homage to this style of film, but it just makes the movie seem like an unfinished film.  And the sound, although generally good, does have some oddities, like the relatively weak gunshots.  And the movie overall uses practical effects, but sometimes these look unrealistic, such as when something is hit by gunfire or during a later bloody scene.  And finally, the film just doesn't seem to have much to say.  The story just kind of meanders on and piles on more and more situations onto this night, but it didn't seem to be building to a larger purpose or overarching story revelation.

Necropath is an ode to the grindhouse feature that is propelled by Moe Isaac's spirited main character.  

Pass on it.

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Necropath is available digitally and on demand on January 9, 2021.

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