Plot: Nicole (Lindsay Eschelman) has some bad memories about her childhood home, but she is about to return to the rural estate for the first time in years, though she will have her friends at her side. The group wanted to escape the confines of urban life and with Thanksgiving around the corner, a remote countryside vacation seemed like the ideal chance for a change of pace. Of course, Nicole has some worries about going back and her memories being dredged up again, but with her friends there, she hopes it will be a fun, memorable weekend. As soon as the friends arrive however, they run into some colorful, unpredictable locals and an eerie atmosphere, only made even creepier by Nicole’s memories of her past. As a dark presence lurks around the group, will anyone survive the weekend?

Entertainment Value: I liked Don’t Look, an indie horror throwback to the slashers of the 80s. The narrative is simple and sets the stage for the stalk and slash, but don’t expect much in terms of depth or character development. But that’s not a real issue here, as slashers aren’t often heralded for complex plots and Don’t Look does what it needs to, which is line up victims and unleash bloodshed. The movie also knows there isn’t a lot of plot to go around, as it sticks to a 71 minute run time and keeps a brisk pace, even in the build up phase. The last half of Don’t Look is where the chaos is uncorked, but I think the movie fares well in the set-up/exposition earlier scenes, though of course, the pace is a little slower in those sequences. This one doesn’t push boundaries or try to reinvent the slasher wheel, but it is a solid slice of indie horror and I love that some creepy hicks are given screen time here. I had fun with Don’t Look and I’d recommend it to anyone with an interest in slashers or horror in general.

In the spirit of the 80s slasher world, this movie has some topless scenes and they’re quite impressive. Hailey Heisick has one of the movie’s most colorful characters and she bares her breasts, so it is a win/win on that front. None of the nakedness is graphic, but there is a scene of ass sniffing, so there’s that. As for bloodshed, the movie rolls with old school, practical effects and that proves to be a wise approach, as the gore is fun and adds a lot to the entertainment value. Most of the violence happens toward the finale, but especially once a chainsaw is introduced to the mix, the crimson really starts to flow like wine. The chainsaw trauma is splashy and the most blood soaked violence, but there’s more on tap. You also have fun with a meat hook, ax wound hijinks, guts torn out, and some exploration of innards. The dialogue has some bursts of humor and Heisick is a lot of fun to watch, but there’s not a wealth of memorable or wild lines. The hicks add some colorful moments however, so the scenes with them, especially Heisick, prove to have the best exchanges. On the craziness scale, the gore and Heisick’s performance earn some points, but Don’t Look doesn’t aim for all out madness, as it is more of a tribute to the old school slashers.

Nudity: 1/10

Blood: 6/10

Dialogue: 2/10

Overall Insanity: 3/10

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