After its UK premiere at this year's Frightfest THE LEECH, writer-director Eric Pennycoff's follow up to his 2018 SADISTIC INTENTIONS, gets a Blu-ray release from Arrow Films.
It's Christmas, and Father David (Graham Skipper) takes pity on homeless Terry (Jeremy Gardner) and allows Terry and his girlfriend Lexi (Taylor Zaudtke) to stay with him over the festive period. There's the suspicion Lexi might be pregnant but as the two turn out to be the guests from hell David begins to seriously reconsider the Christian values he has been preaching to his pitifully small flock in his very large church, as well as having to cope with demons rising from his past.
If Dennis Potter had been commissioned to write an episode of My Name Is Earl we might have ended up with something a bit like THE LEECH, which will probably turn out to be the most deliciously cynical Christmas movie we'll see this year. What begins as a potential comedy, THE LEECH becomes more disturbing as it goes along, escalating wildly into blood-soaked hysteria by the end. Pennycoff manages a nice line in subtext, with this one working on a number of levels for the viewer to either read into if they want or just enjoy what is an entertaining, tightly written thrill ride.
As always with Arrow's releases of modern films, the disc comes packed with extras. Pennycoff and producer Scott Smith provide a commentary track, and there's a second 'live' commentary from the Chatanooga Film Festival, from which we also get a Q&A with Pennycoff and the cast. Frightfest's introduction and Q&A is also included. Anton Bitel provides a visual essay on the director's two features and the disc also includes three of Pennycoff's early short films. Add in a music video, interviews with Pennycoff and Skipper, a Making Of, trailer and reversible sleeve and the whole package will make an excellent gift for the Christmas cynic in your life.
Eric Pennycoff's THE LEECH is out on Blu-ray on Monday 5th December 2022
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