‘Give the Devil his due’
The Hangman is a 2024 horror film about a man whose son is kidnapped by a cult that worships a bloodthirsty demon.
Directed by Bruce Wemple (Island Escape; First Contact; Dawn of the Beast; The Retreat; Monstrous; Lake Artifact; Altered Hours) from a screenplay co-written with LeJon Woods who also stars. Produced by Daniel Booker and Vincent Conroy.
The Epic Pictures Group-Traverse Terror co-production also stars Lindsey Dresbach, Richard Lounello, Jefferson Cox, Daniel Martin Berkey and Mar Cellus.
Plot:
To mend their troubled relationship, a middle-aged door-to-door salesman, Leon (LeJon Woods), takes his teenage son on a camping trip into deep rural Appalachia. Little do they know of the mountainous region’s sinister secrets. A local cult has summoned an evil demon born of hate and pain, known to them as The Hangman, and now the bodies have begun to pile up.
Leon wakes up in the morning to discover that his son is missing. To find him, Leon must face the murderous cult and the bloodthirsty monster that is The Hangman…
Reviews:
“As much as I enjoyed the beginning, it ended up feeling like LeJon Woods simply created a screenplay for him to act out all the scenes he had ever dreamt of […] As a writer and actor, who wouldn’t want to do this? However, this desire should never take precedence over making a good movie.” Heaven of Horror ★★
“The Hangman transcends typical horror tropes, offering a narrative layered with themes of survival, bravery, and the human spirit’s resilience. With its robust character arcs, suspenseful setting, and gripping storyline, the film promises not just to thrill but also to touch on deeper societal and personal issues. It is a shining example of how creativity and dedication in filmmaking can create a memorable and impactful cinematic experience that resonates with viewers long after they leave the theater.” Overly Honest Reviews ★★★½
“While Leon must work his way through Hell, be that metaphysical or not, his journey as a father is powerfully more heroic than his eventual showdown with the Hangman […] The Hangman apologetically fits within the genre and strangles out the minimally appropriate material with its very last breath while ignoring the true horror of scary Appalachian drug dealers.” Read @ Joe’s ★★½
” …it never really comes together, getting too caught up in talk and good intentions to deliver the scares. I usually enjoy Wemple’s films, but this one never really rises above passable. It’s a well-intentioned misfire, but a misfire nonetheless.” ★★ Voices from the Balcony
Trailer:
Release date:
Dread released The Hangman theatrically in select US locations on May 31, 2024, then on VOD on June 6, 2024.
Technical specs:
1 hour 28 minutes
More Bruce Wemple movies:
DAWN OF THE BEAST (2021) Reviews of monster movie with Bigfoot and the Wendigo!
THE RETREAT (2020) Reviews and overview
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