Monday, September 09, 2024

Wineville: Vino Horror that is Way Too Acidic

You might expect any wine-themed horror film could not help referring to Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.” However, resisting that impulse might be the smartest thing this retro slasher does. It would just prompt deeply unflattering comparisons. Instead, the exploitative grunge simply compounds and festers in Brande Roderick’s Wineville, which releases tomorrow on VOD.

It might be news to you, but apparently there is an area just past Barstow in the Mojave Desert known as “Wineville,” because of all the family vineyards. Grapes love that desert soil, right? Tess Lott’s family used to operate one of them, but it has fallen on hard times—not that she cares. She left her abusive home and never intended to return. However, when her despised perv-father died without a will, she ironically inherited.

Naturally, that really frosts her nasty Aunt Margaret, who lives on the Lott lot in a white trash bungalow. It also worries, Joe “Lott,” a “foundling” her father unofficially adopted. He has big plans to return the vineyard to its former glory. He also picks up women on the highway, luring them to their violent, painful death. However, her sort-of brother acts sufficiently normal for Lott to trust him to look after her son, Walter while she deals with the estate.

It is hard to say which will make viewers feel more unclean. The vicious murders or the horrific flashbacks to the sexual abuse Tess survived. Together, they make
Wineville a spectacularly miserable viewing experience. It is billed as a retro slasher, but it has none of the sub-genre’s guilty thrills. Instead, it just rubs our noses in its grossness.

Weirdly, Roderick is not bad as the grown-up Tess Lott. She might make a pretty good final girl-mom in a better horror movie. Her on-screen performance is the best thing she has going for her as the director.

Poor Texas Battle also tries to bring some down home charm as Lott’s potential romantic interest, Sheriff John Hicks, but this is a lost cause. Casey King (who was probably cast solely for his shirtless scenes) lacks the kind of ominous presence this film needs from a character like Joe Lott. Conversely, Carolyn Hennesy is punishingly cruel and off-putting as Aunt Margaret.

Presumably, cinematographer Fabian Montes-Sanchez was going for a throwback 1970s look, but visually, the film is so garish and murky, even the innocuous scenes are unpleasant to endure.
Wineville is just no fun whatsoever. If you are going to watch, you will need plenty of hard alcohol to chase it down, but the hangover will be a killer. Not recommended, it releases tomorrow (9/10) on VOD.