Voodoo Moon (DVD)

Voodoo Moon is written and directed by Kevin VanHook, whose two movies previous to this — Frost: Portrait of a Vampire, and The Fallen Ones — were nothing special. I had few expectations for this movie, but I am a sucker for horror films that blend voodoo with an authentic New Orleans setting, and I like the cast… so, my hopes were perhaps a bit high as I slid the disc into my player.

The movie starts right off with an exciting, fast-paced sequence of events showing our scarred but handsome hero, Cole (Eric Mabius), performing a fiery voodoo banishment ritual. A shadowy, demonic creature looks on, hidden from Cole's view, even as a huge fireball explosion blasts the atmosphere.

Next, we cut to New Orleans portrait artist, pretty Heather (Charisma Carpenter), basking in the compliments at the opening of her latest exhibit. Her happiness and contentment are not to last, as she sees Cole darken the doorway. We soon learn that the pair are brother and sister, orphaned years ago when a demonic force killed their parents. Now, it's time to settle the score once and for all.

Cole and Heather leave New Orleans (but not before an atmospheric scene set in an old cemetery) and head out to their hometown where all hell broke loose. Along the way, Cole's friends and confidants answer the call to arms, and we see them all headed for the safe house. A mysterious healer (Dee Wallace Stone) owns the isolated abode, and soon we meet Cole's ex-junkie ex-girlfriend (Jayne Heitmeyer), his biker buddy (John Amos), a troubled cop (Jeffrey Combs), and a convicted murderer (Reynaldo Gallegos).

Before long, the devil (Rik Young) takes the challenge and shows up for the battle to end all battles. In an action-packed showdown that's obviously comic-book inspired, we see Cole and his nemesis go head-to-head over a lake of fire, under the full voodoo moon.

Voodoo Moon is by far VanHook's best effort to date. While the movie does have some lag here and there, and uneven CGI effects that pull you out of the story, it's got an entertaining good-vs-evil plot and a top-notch cast.

Combs can act when he wants to (when he doesn't, he goes way over the top), and here he is perfect as the traumatized lawman turned zombie (what an actor draws on for that character, I don't know!). Mabius is his usual stoic self, bringing some gravitas to the lead role, and Carpenter plays the sassy sister without condescension. Wallace handles her small role with grace and adds layers to it seemingly without effort. Geoffrey Lewis, in a cameo, commands the screen even if only for a few minutes.

Most impressive were Amos and Young. Amos, as the joke-cracking, kick-ass biker who is willing to lay down his life for Cole, brings real mood and believability to what could be a cardboard-cutout character. Young, as the charming and handsome devil, is also excellent. At first it's hard to get over just how much he looks like a cross between the youthful Errol Flynn and Orlando Bloom, but once you do, you'll see he can truly emote with nuance.

The special makeup and zombie effects by Almost Human are very good, but some of the film's horror is undermined by super fake-looking CGI. The corny effects suck you right out of the action, unfortunately. And yet, there is also some decent CGI (the crow, and fire sequences). It's kind of a mixed bag.

While Voodoo Moon is not going to be nominated for any Oscars and it's probably not a movie I'll be watching twice, I think it's a real step up for VanHook, and it's a treat to see a magical movie that was filmed on location in gorgeous Louisiana (and my home state of California).

The DVD has some serviceable extras on it: There's a good making-of featurette (but it's called Reap What You Sew… and no-one sews a stitch! I guess the proofreader thought "sow" was a pig…), and a special effects featurette, plus commentary from VanHook. There are also extended and deleted scenes – while it's interesting to get more back story and feel more of the brother/sister dynamic, the dialogue-heavy scenes do go on too long.

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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson