THE KILLER OF GRASSY RIDGE *** USA 2020 Dir: Johnny K. 9 mins
An effectively sinister score by Mattia Cupelli and Doug Maxwell lends an unnerving ambience to this subversion of rural horror stereotypes, shot in Luray, Virginia and Tennessee. While the community stays on edge from local radio reports of fresh murder victims courtesy of the “Grassy Ridge Killer”, a glowering, long-haired, grave-digging Michael Stumbo lurks in the woods with an axe and a female hiker (Heather Stone) twists her ankle. This well cast, straight-forward horror short offers a satisfying reversal of expectation that allows the imposing Stumbo (channelling Bill Moseley) and resilient Stone more depth than the initial set up suggests. Proficiently edited and directed by Johnny K., it’s a decent time-filler.
Review by Steven West