A director with a few Frightfest premieres under his belt (WORRY DOLLS, DARK LIGHT) including this one, Padraig Reynolds' gas station slasher OPEN 24 HOURS is getting a digital release from Signature on the Frightfest Presents label.
Recently released from prison for trying to burn her serial killer boyfriend to death, Mary (Vanessa Grasse) gets a job working the night shift at a remote gas station. As well as having something of a past, Mary also suffers from paranoid delusions with added hallucinations, so when the phone starts ringing and strange things occur is she imagining it? Or has her scarred ex-boyfriend broken out of prison? And is he the one doing the I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER impersonation and killing people with a claw hammer, or is it someone else?
OPEN 24 HOURS benefits from an opening hour that plays with so many genre tropes fans will be ticking them of with glee and everyone will be left guessing. Mary's boyfriend was known for only murdering people when it was raining and he had a habit of playing an old song to her over the phone before a kill. The flashback to the cellar filled with bodies also adds to the Italian feel.
There's plenty of gore both real and imagined as well. Sadly as the film reaches its climax it becomes all rather predictable which is a shame as with a couple of twists OPEN 24 HOURS could have been classy crazy stuff. As it stands it's no classic but if you're a horror fan it's a decent enough time waster for a couple of hours.
Padraig Reynolds' OPEN 24 HOURS is out from Signature on the Frightfest Presents label on Digital HD from Monday 20th July 2020
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