From those crazy teens in Friday the 13th to horror comedy films such as Evil Bong, marijuana has always played a part in the horror genre. Smoking the wacky weed has been a multi-decade precursor which has invited terrifying trouble for the casts of horror films. With the explosion of legal cannabis, it was only a matter of time before the Horror Nation got a more serious film regarding the blissful bud. Director Ariel Vida attempts to mix old world lore with a new age idea in Trim Season. With a strong cast featuring, Bethlehem Million (Sick) Bex Taylor-Klaus (Hell Fest) and Jane Badler (V,) expectations will be high for this sinister show.
After losing her job, Emma (Million) takes her friend Julia up on an offer for a night out to alleviate her economic dilemma. While at a bar the two friends encounter a friend of a mutual friend who presents an opportunity for some great quick cash. Seeking an escape and desperate for money, Emma and Julia agree to join a team of trimmers in the wilderness. After meeting the rest of the group, the weed team heads to a remote location. Mona (Badler) welcomes her new employees by throwing them an elegant dinner filled with great food, wine, and weed. Though odd, the young ladies are enchanted by the elder lady as well as the serene location in which they will be working. Quickly the pot paradise turns into a nightmare as the mystery behind the shady business is unraveled. Emma desperately tries to figure out the supernatural elements that begin to hunt her and the group before they become permanent residents among the stalks.
Trim Season is a gorgeously refreshing take on supernatural lore. The cast shines throughout the film by delivering dramatic and physical performances that build empathy for their characters while also building dread from scene to scene. The slow burn plot never loses the audience as writers, David Blair, Sean E. Demott, and Cullen Poythress present a perfectly paced script that crescendos at the right time. Vida shines with stunning shot selection, bouncing the camera around at perfect views while using terrific lighting effects to capture the tone of the film. Trim Season runs very much like Ti West’s House of the Devil. It will only be a matter of time until this talent team reach the same heights as the X director has.
Scream Score: 8.8/10