HORROR FILM REVIEW: STAR LEAF

I would have reviewed this movie, but I got high, but I got high, but I got highhhhhhhhh!

Here is the official release blurb from Leomark Studios:

The highly-anticipated science-fiction/horror film is now available from Leomark Studios, available to order from http://www.starleafmovie.com/

From '90s science-fiction fave Robert Leeshock, star of EARTH : FINAL CONFLICT, and starring Z NATION's Russell Hodgkinson comes a Richard Cranor film, STAR LEAF. 

Synopsis : A group of friends set off to find a secret forest of marijuana hidden deep in the Olympic Mountains. Legend has it the plants are of extra-terrestrial origin, and two ex-Marines among the group hope it will cure their PTSD born from hard combat in Afghanistan.

Starring Richard Cranor (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE), Russell Hodgkinson (Z NATION, BIG FISH), Julian Gavilanes (GRINDER, Z NATION), and Kiki Yeung (GODMACHINE).

This film is something of a curiosity; it has some quite frankly excellent CGI work and a particularly good premise. The acting from all concerned is good, and in particular Richard Cranor as the Park Ranger gives a spectacularly weird performance without being over-the-top. Russell Hodgkinson is good fun as Seth 'guardrail' slaughter: the go-to hippie who has the map which leads to some quite literally out of this world weed. There are rules to follow, which are obviously going to get broken, and when that happens, things get very weird very fast.

STAR LEAF manages to combine a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Stoner culture and some very close encounters of the 3rd kind in a crazy mixture which is actually a much better film than it sounds.

The aliens themselves are of the latex suit variety, but that is okay. It is all beautifully done, and it kept my interest throughout, largely because the characters are interesting and a great amount of care was taken with the production to ensure they never dip below entertaining.

Shelby Truax is alluring as Martha, but is much more than mere eye candy as she brings a touch of sanity to proceedings; it is a welcome buffer to the antics of Julian Gavilanes as James and Tyler Trerise as Tim, the 2 ex-Marines who are out for fun.

The ending is anything but, and I would urge anyone watching this to keep on watching beyond the credits as there is something a little extra at the end which is worth seeing.

Writer – director – producer and of course actor Richard Cranor and his crew have done a sterling job, and I genuinely hope to see more from them in future.

Follow the link for the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSRCNROi3Pk

JOE YOUNG 

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