31 Days of Horror Day 14: Patient Seven 2016 - REVIEW

After the success of films like The Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, we were bombarded with found footage films. Scream hit the scene and suddenly slashers were all the rage again. Now, after films like VHS picking up where the greats (Tales from the Crypt, Creepshow, etc) left off years ago, anthologies are making a comeback. Now, I'm not a big fan of anthologies, especially when they're combined together to form a "story", simply because it becomes hard to stitch them all together where they all connect properly.

Patient Seven centers around Dr. Marcus (Michael Ironside), a renowned psychiatrist who has selected 6 severe mentally ill and dangerous patients from the Spring Valley Mental Hospital to interview as part of research for his new book. As Dr. Marcus interviews each patient, one by one the horrors they have committed begin to unfold. However, Dr. Marcus soon learns that there is one patient who ties them all together.

So I guess if you're going to do an anthology, this is an appropriate way to do it. Each segment is told by a different patient and while drastically different, still connect to the story surrounding them. The individual shorts are pretty phenomenal and range from horror to dark comedy. While none are particularly scary, they effects are well done and the acting is pretty spot on; but I would expect nothing less from such a star studded cast. Ironside has been a favorite of mine since he sent me away from the drive in scared and crying after watching him make someone's head explode in Scanners. His sideways grin and little giggle gives me chills every time. Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) stars in the segment The Body" and is no less than brilliant.

Any filmmaker that can tell a complete story in less than fifteen minutes will always get kudos from me and I give a lot of kudos to each of one involved here. It would be difficult for me to choose a favorite from the bunch as they are all equally stunning in production, effects and acting. The story that pulls them all together, however, is a bit predictable and the twist at the end isn't anything we haven't seen before but that doesn't take anything away from the overall film. It's enjoyable and I would recommend it to other horror fans but suggest that they don't go into it looking for anything groundbreaking. Give it a watch then come back and let me know what you think!