Path to Evil (DVD)

Twenty years ago, the small coastal town of Devils Lake fell victim to a bizarre string of brutal murders, but the killer was caught and put in prison. Suddenly, the crimes begin happening again, giving the incarcerated man the impetus to protest his innocence again. A local reporter is listening, but the sheriff’s department is in a state of turmoil and before they realize their ignorance one of their own is killed.

Path to Evil is a very low-budget film, and it shows. In addition, Path to Evil is a maddeningly uneven movie. For example, the dialogue is quite good but it is undermined by poor acting. The camera angles are clever, but they’re mostly sabotaged by flat lighting that ruins any depth of field. The story is pretty mysterious, but it’s hobbled by awkward direction.

Worse, the murder is a mask-wearing blade-wielder who looks so much like Halloween’s Michael Myers it borders on copyright infringement. Most of the kills are standard fare: Naked chicks getting their guts sliced-n-diced, but there is one very memorable and hair-raising scene which involves the murderer, a mirror, and someone hiding under the bed.

The DVD is worth a rental if you don’t mind more angst and mystery than outright murder and mayhem. I actually did like the movie, overall. If you’re in the mood for something faster-paced and slicker-looking, then beat a path to another door.

= = =

Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson