‘Some monsters aren’t born. They’re created.’
Del Playa is a 2015 American horror thriller film written and directed by Shaun Hart.
The movie stars Devon Barnes, Ryan Ochoa and Brett Johnson.
Plot:
Matthew (Alan Ayala) is routinely abused and beaten up by his stepfather. He has a crush on Claire (Devon Barnes), during high school. His love for Claire rides a fine line between persistence and obsession. And when Matthew is jumped by her boyfriend, things turn violent. Five years go by and Claire discovers that her high school stalker has returned for her.
The film has been surrounded by controversy from the moment the filmmakers released a trailer on YouTube in 2015. There were claims made by several people that the movie was based on college student Elliot Rodger. In 2014, Rodger killed six other students and wounded 14 others, in Isla Vista, California. Then, he killed himself.
The controversy became so heated that a petition was created on Change.org by a former UCSB student, garnering approximately 30,000 signatures. The petition was a protest of the film. Meanwhile, major publications such as Variety and The Huffington Post reported on the controversy.
Writer/director Shaun Hart admits that, while there may be similarities to the actual events that took place in 2013, this story is not based specifically on that incident. “I was completely blindsided by the Elliot Rodger story – another devastating tragedy in a long lineage of mass shootings,” he says.
“The only difference for me was that I lived on that street where Elliot’s rampage ultimately ended.”
When asked about his motivations regarding making the film, Hart said: “storytelling is powerful. Being a filmmaker, I began to put the question – why does this keep happening year after year? – into a story because I believe that’s a way that we can learn. We have to come to grips with the fact that – as a society – something is changing. There is a very real darkness descending on our country that is more frightening than any imaginary monster we can manufacture in a horror film. That’s what this film is about.”
To show that he is socially responsible, Hart has decided that a portion of the film’s profits will go to Arts for Humanity! — a non-profit based in Santa Barbara, California. Founded in 1997, this group empowers low income at-risk youth, people with disabilities and the elderly through participatory performing and visual arts programs. They bring opportunities in the creative arts directly to marginalised community members through art programs that are provided to social service agencies through Santa Barbara County.
Reviews:
” …I enjoyed the impulsive destruction Claire exhibits, I also felt Matthew was an effective psycho, I really liked the old school brute that Johnson displayed, with that little bit of humanity thrown in when you least expect it. While the sound effects were too loud the visuals were all decent, the kills look great, and at times almost wince-inducing.” The Rotting Zombie
“The film successfully creates a feel somewhat similar to movies like the 90’s slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer. While that style isn’t my personal taste, a little bit of a quicker pace, a more upbeat tone and a better title, this slasher might have found success as a wide theatrical release. There were some poor decisions like throwing sand at a serial killer which kills things a little.” Without Your Head
Release:
Terror Films is set to release Del Playa across multiple digital platforms in North America on July 21, 2017.
Filming locations:
Isla Vista, California
Free film to watch online:
