MIND LEECH **** Canada 2023 Dir: Chris Cheeseman & Paul Krysinski. 60 mins
1998, what a year. Titanic dominated the Oscars, Harrison Ford was named People magazine’s sexiest man alive, Google was founded…oh and a persistent leech was causing havoc in rural snowy Canada.
MIND LEECH opens with two guys who are after a quick buck and their best option it would appear is to dump toxic waste for a questionable company into a local lake, something these 2 characters have done before. This time though the troublesome container won’t sink so they give it a good blast with a gun which in turn leads the toxic waste to leak into the water. We then meet friends Craig Hoser (Paul Krysinski) and ‘Juicy’ Josh Henderson (Daniel James McGee) as they go ice fishing. After a bit of drinking ‘Juicy’ Josh Henderson heads out to relieve himself leaving Craig to man the fishing rods. Craig soon catches something but it snaps his fishing line leaving him wondering what it was he caught. Leaning over the ice hole he spots something in the water and before he can retreat a giant leech latches itself to his head taking over Craig’s mind resulting in him going on a killing spree. Sheriff Benjamin Pailey (Mischa O’Hoski) and Deputy ‘TJ’ Johnson (Steff Ivory Conover) go on a hunt to save the residents of Provinstate and discover their killer but they aren’t ready to come face to face with what is attached to him. With the leech now attaching itself to a new host it attempts to make its way to open waters where perhaps it could take over others. Deputy ‘TJ’ Johnson is the one person that stands in the pesky parasites way but even if she manages to succeed its going to be a wild story to explain to others.
This film just screams 80’s throwback and that is one of the many things that makes MIND LEECH appealing. With an abundance of horror movies going over the 2 hour mark in recent years it was refreshing to sit down and watch a film that is an easy fun watch and finished in 60 minutes. It is an indie film that has good production value and you can tell that the cast and crew put their heart and soul into this film, and what do you know there are no audio issues which I know can plague indie films from time time, hell it happens on big budget Hollywood movies as well.
The ending to MIND LEECH screams sequel and I for one would happily watch the squirmy little bugger return and causing more havoc. I know some people may be put off by this being an indie film, especially those who get all excited for the latest Blumhouse or A24 picture, but just put your indie film prejudice in a box for an hour and you will find immense pleasure in watching MIND LEECH.
Although only available to stream for now (HERE), it deserves to be released on physical media sitting proud in your film collection with films such as SLITHER (2006). MIND LEECH is a superb creature feature that will undoubtedly become a fan favourite over time.
Review by Peter ‘Witchfinder‘ Hopkins
MIND LEECH is available to rent at: