‘Better safe than sorry.’
Crush the Skull is a 2015 American comedy horror film edited and directed by Viet Nguyen (iZombie) from a screenplay co-written with Chris Dinh, based on their 2010 short of the same title and its 2013 sequel. Dinh stars alongside Katie Savoy, Tim Chiou, and Chris Riedell.
Four burglars find themselves trapped within an isolated modern house they intended to rob, only to discover they’ve inadvertently wandered into the lair of a deranged serial killer…
Reviews:
“ …Crush the Skull could easily be summed up as part heist movie, part slasher but it’s 100 percent unexpected fun. Nguyen confidently blends the two genres together for an experience that’s tense, well-paced and often hilarious, demonstrating there are still a few twists to be had in the modern horror genre.” Heather Wixson, Daily Dead
“Despite a small borrow from The Poughkeepsie Tapes, Dinh and Nguyen have come up with something that keeps upending our expectations […] Crush the Skull is a laugh out loud winner, economical in both resources and running time.” Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
“There’s no denying that the horror and comedy could blend better, and the final 30 minutes shows just how well it can work, but that doesn’t keep the film from becoming something fun. It’s worth watching just for the final third alone.” Will Brownridge, The Film Reel
“The characters and the concept come just close enough that the movie still captures some of the promise that the shorts showed. Things just don’t quite coalesce into a tone that can hit hard on the horror while still staying humorous at the same time.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt
“The superb character development and dialogue produces lively characters built upon an established dynamic group of tight knit actors whose on screen chemistry is beyond just a spark. Much of the character interactions are comical with a wrap around horror story and the mixture is purely potent and damn good…” It’s Bloggin’ Evil!
“Although the opening prologue is a bit grim, Nguyen follows up with a wonderfully outrageous, blackly comic sequence of misadventures. The house is also a minor triumph of production and art design […] It is a creepy film, but it earns laughs more regularly than the Scream franchise.” Joe Bendel, J.B. Spins
” …It’s a film that knows how to create drama and suspense, when and where to put drama and plot twists, and how to create believable characters – but it has also got a sense how to throw humour (and lots of it) into the equation without making the thing moronic or even losing the tension.” Mike Haberfelner, Search My Trash
“The cast is likable, the premise is fine, the dialogue is sometimes funny and despite awkwardly filmed it’s a solid film.” Dennis Schwartz, Ozus’ World Movie Reviews
Main cast:
- Katie Savoy … Blair – Needlestick; Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda; Palace of the Damned; L.A. Vampire (short)
- Tim Chiou … Riley – Everyone I Love Is Dead (TV series); iZombie; The Wizard of Gore
- Chris Riedell … Connor
- Chris Dinh … Ollie – Crush the Skull; Crush the Skull 2 (shorts)
- Lauren Reeder … Vivian – Raze; Prey (short)
- Walter Michael Bost … Killer
- Lincoln Hoppe … Sheriff Dennis
- Katrina Nelson … Mom
- Justin Ray … Boy Toy
- Nathan Moore … Officer Gabbe
