A creepy trip to a cottage in the woods has been a staple in the horror genre. British horror maestro Chris Shane Sanders attempts to spin a new yarn in this age-old plot. Sanders has brought the Horror Nation some gems over the past few years, with popular films such as Werewolf Cabal and Nest of Vampires. Randy Kent directs the latest script from Sanders in this slow burn saga that hopes to take its place amongst the best creep fest films in the genre.
Helen Daniels (Alyssa Haymor) is grieving over the suicide death of her sister. Helen’s uncle David (Bhasker Patel) suggest that she escape to his cottage in the country in an attempt to ease her suffering mind. Quickly after arriving in the remote village, Helen is greeted by some unusual locals. With a fetching eye darted toward one of them and an endless stream of otherworldly activity dancing around the cottage, Helen invites her new male friend to stay the night. Before the turning of the spooky season, Helen is thrown into a horror show of ancient paganism, while her dark past creeps in from the shadows.
If Paranormal Activity and Rosemary’s Baby had a film child, that child would be Bring Me a Skin for Dancing In. Sanders presents a slow burn supernatural tale that starts with a shovel removing some dirt and ends by burying the audience deep into the psyche of human desire. Kent uses the camera to enhance the plot with superb shot selection that is reminiscent of the old terror tales from yesteryear. Along with great creepy B-roll, each scene builds a tense free-flowing plot that carries the audience through a live spook house. Veteran actor Vernon Wells steals his scenes with authority, while lead Alyssa Haymor drives the narrative with a bold empathetic performance. Bring Me a Skin for Dancing is a fantastic old world fright flick that is best enjoyed on a foggy evening with the lights out and the sound up. Just be mindful of those noises that waltz through your home while watching, it could be your own past coming for one last dance!
Scream Score: 8/10