‘The lost found Hell’
Thorns is a 2023 American supernatural horror film about an ex-clergyman who has to reignite his faith to confront a demonic presence.
Written and directed by Douglas Schulze (Mimesis: Nosferatu; The Dark Below; Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead; Hellmaster).
The movie stars Doug Bradley (Hellraiser franchise), Cassandra Schomer, Jon Bennett, Bob Shumaker, Terence Cover, Pamela Martin, Brigid Casey, Lillie Angel, Elly Schulze, Alice Baker, Penny Varva and Greg Ashman.
FrightFest blurb:
“A daring fusion of religious lore and scientific exploration, echoing the spine-chilling narratives of iconic horror films such as Hellraiser, The Thing, Alien, and The Exorcist.
An ex-clergyman, now employed by NASA, is dispatched to examine a secluded observatory that abruptly ceased all communication following the receipt of an enigmatic deep-space radio signal. On his arrival, he uncovers a terrifying reality – the signal has triggered a portal, setting free a monstrous creature adorned with thorns. Faced with this insidious threat, the erstwhile man of cloth must reignite his long-abandoned faith to cease the signal’s terrestrial propagation, thereby averting the impending apocalypse.
With horrific scenes of visceral dismemberment, tormented sisters of the cloister, apocalyptic biblical narratives, and the legendary Pinhead actor Doug Bradley assuming the role of an enigmatic archbishop, this tale promises a horrifyingly immersive experience.”
Reviews:
“Different viewers will react differently to its ideas about Hell, but Thorns still presents audiences with strong performances from its cast and an assortment of memorable creature effects, making it a bold new entry into the wide plethora of religious horror films.” ★★★★ Dread Central
“Atmospheric and gritty throughout, Thorns is a riveting amalgamation of science and theology that undoubtedly implements the best of both aspects. With its expressive cinematography, glorious gore, and unsettling sound design, the film makes the most out of its budget and delivers a highly polished piece of indie cinema as a result.” ★★★½ Grimoire of Horror
“Let down by its overly ambitious nature, Thorns shines brightest when focusing on birthing elegant practical effects and make-up onto the screen. Outside of this, it struggles to connect, and lack of budget elsewhere allows too much of a peek behind the curtain for the viewer to wholeheartedly invest.” ★★★ The Hollywood News
“Granted, it has some redeeming qualities, like Doug Bradley’s performance and the Cenobite-esque monster, so there were parts of it that I really enjoyed. But on the whole, it doesn’t focus enough on those strengths […] It works best when the monster is front and center, but unfortunately, this creature doesn’t get enough screen time to save the movie.” Horror Obsessive
“Writer-director Douglas Schulze […] always has a lot of bright ideas, but there’s a little too much runaround corridors with a monster here as if this were episode four of a six-part 1960s Doctor Who serial which didn’t have enough story to fill the slot, and it’s hard pressed to evoke global catastrophes with stock footage snips and voice-over mumbling.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Jon Bennett and Cassandra Schomer are both excellent in their roles. Hellraiser icon Doug Bradley joins the cast by bringing the deepest dialogue. We get a blend of Hellraiser, Stranger Things and The Void here and it delivers in every scene of the movie. Thorns takes us on a nightmarish journey.” ★★★★ Movie Reviews 101
“Thorns both suffers from and thrives on its budgetary limitations […] That said, the production’s obvious cheapness, combined with a hands-on commitment to monstrous make-up and practical effects, conjures the spirit of Eighties straight-to-VHS schlock which spawned films like Hellraiser in the first place. There is real nostalgia for all this scrappiness.” Projected Figures
“Fans of micro-budget, self-funded regional horror should watch this for the toilet bowl fight alone, and also for Mr Bradley doing his thing.” ★★½ Saltomancer
Release:
Thorns had its world premiere at the 2023 FrightFest on August 26, 2023.
Trailer:
Clip:
Technical specs:
1 hour 31 minutes
More Douglas Schulze movies:
#ThornsTrailer #DouglasSchulze #DougBradley
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