You kinda have to love the way things can get out to audiences these days. I was there to jump immediately on the bandwagon when Amazon introduced the very first Kindle. I thought being able to publish my stuff that way would be all I would need. Well, that didn't turn out quite to be the case, but it did get me out there and helped me find an audience.
Now, thanks to streaming services and things like YouTube, filmmakers are finding ways to reach audiences all the time. Sometimes by producing very creepy and interesting horror tales. A few years ago, I remember watching the Marble Hornets series of films that helped the world become familiar with Slender Man. These days, YouTube is a real powerhouse for content with hundreds, maybe thousands of people earning their living creating videos every day.
Now, a horror movie by Curry Barker called Milk & Serial is available on YouTube, and it manages to do some interesting things with a tired horror sub-genre and tale a pretty compelling tale.
It's Found Footage All Over Again
Yep, this is a found footage horror tale. It's a genres that really started with The Blair Witch Project a horror film I stand by as being particularly scary and a great example of the sub-genre. Once that became a hit, it seemed like we got found footage movies in every genre and every other week until it became tired and stale. I happen to have liked the first Paranormal Activities, but after that, it was a yawn.
However, with this being a YouTube film created by YouTube creators (the It's a Bad Idea crew), found footage is the only genre where it can really work. This group has been producing comedy bits and ultra short horror movies for a while now, and this is their first full-length feature. It runs just over and hour, and even when there are times you think "this is breaking the found footage rules" you realize there is a reason for it and it ties up nicely.
As I understand it Curry Barker (the mastermind behind this) had people coming to him wanting to turn this into a big Hollywood release. Instead, he decided to make a new original film for that deal, and release this ultra-low-budge horror film free on YouTube. Reportedly, this cost all of about $800.
The Plot
Within the movie we meet Milk and Seven. They have been running a moderately successful prank-based YouTube channel for a while and have a group of friends that help them out. At the start of the movie, it's Milk's birthday and Seven has an elaborate prank planned during the party. The prank happens, everyone laughs, but then something sinister happens when a seemingly disgruntled neighbor shows up to complain about noise.
It is at this point I am going to have to leave you to discover the plot on your own. It takes a very sudden and disturbing turn here and it just keeps twisting and turning for the rest of the movie.
Milk & Serial Provides Effect Horror
Do, does this film work? I have to say yes. Overall, the film holds up, the times you think maybe they broke the rules on found footage end up having an explanation behind them. The plot seems simple, but manages to have some complexity behind it, and it has a an effective creepiness factor that works. There aren't really any jumpscares here, but I always like horror that leaves a scar and I end up thinking about days later. Milk & Serial has that in abundance.
Overall, this movie works. It brings a bit of freshness to found footage. The acting is overall very good. The plot manages to withstand the many twists and turns and it has a somewhat shocking conclusion. So, yes, this is worth seeking out and spending an hour on YouTube watching if you get the chance.
Personally, I am looking forward to what Curry Barker and the rest of the crew come up with. I just hope they manage to keep things simple and not get overloaded with a bigger Hollywood budget. You don't need huge special effects to tell compelling horror and this movie proves that well.
Check Out Milk & Serial
If you are a horror fan, I have provided links to where you can watch this little gem of a film. I hope you check it out. If you happen to be a filmmaker, I hope you learn a few lessons about how you can create compelling horror tales without a big budget and get your own work out there.
Check this one out. I think you'll be pleasantly (or unpleasantly depending on how you feel about horror) surprised.
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