THE DARK TAPES (2017) Reviews and overview

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The Dark Tapes is a 2017 found footage science fiction horror anthology film co-directed by Vincent J. Guastini and Michael McQuown, from a screenplay by the latter.

As a special effects artist, director Vincent J. Guastini has worked on The Black Room; It Watches; Havenhurst; VHS Viral; Transylmania; plus many other movies.

Available on VOD, the film was also released on DVD by Epic Pictures on July 4, 2017.

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Main cast:

Brittany Underwood, David Hull, Cortney Palm (Sushi Girl, Zombeavers), Emilia Ares Zoryan (V/H/S: Viral), Anna Rose Moore, Shawn Lockie and David Rountree (Staunton Hill).

Plot:

‘A genre-defying mixture of horror, sci-fi, myth, mystery and thrills told as four interlocking tales in one intelligent anthology. Ghosts, spirits, creatures, demons and more from the paranormal world collide with rational curiosity…’

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Reviews:

” …the effects work (for the most part), the stories were pulled off nicely (with the exception of the cheesy web-cam exhibit), and surprisingly the acting served its purpose: believable and smooth conveyance of each specific storyline. Both Guastini and McQuown have executed a tense and thrilling film here, which is packaged with some good scares…” Dread Central

” …The Dark Tapes is a great example of what can be done by talented people who understand how to work with a limited budget […] the resulting film has won an impressive list of awards on the festival circuit for everything from acting to script, effects and overall film. And it deserves them.” Rogue Cinema

“Not terribly frightening, and jumping between stories tends to tame the adrenaline rush a bit. Still, a good effort. I jumped in my seat a couple of times.” Flix4Chix.com

“It is a little gruesome bag of dark delicacies that for the most part overcomes its limited budget. Whether it gets a theatrical and/or VOD release, it has enough macabre moments to whet the genre fan’s ravenous appetite. So, when TDT comes your way, grab your bloody knife and fork, and dig in.” The Movie Guys

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” …this one puts its emphasis on creating tension and suspense, puts emphasis on decent pacing (often a shortcoming with found footage movies) and telling original stories. And with a decent cast, some crazy ideas and fun effects, this one totally works, too!” Search My Trash

“If McQuown could have afforded better production values and creature design it would, along with the great acting and impressive scripts, made this a must-see movie. He attempted to get around the constraints by focussing more on storytelling and character work, and to an extent, it worked.” UK Horror Scene

“Director Michael McQuown’s innovative and thoughtful storytelling, exceptional casting, and near-perfect found footage cinematography have resulted in a film that is a welcome addition to the found footage genre.” Found Footage Critic

“The whole show is consistently better-acted than most found footage improv-a-thons, which helps a lot – even seeming throwaway characters like Amanda’s would-be boyfriend (Jake O’Connor) have a bit of life. In all, worth a watch.” The Kim Newman Web Site

Filming locations:

Los Angeles, California

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