Bunker review.
Bunker horror is apparently in fashion nowadays. The Lair and Deep Fear have released in the last several months…and now we have a movie that cuts right to the point and calls itself Bunker. This is a weird one. Because it, mostly, doesn’t want to get weird.
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Bunker
Directed by Adrian Langley
Written by Michael Huntsman
Starring Eddie Ramos, Patrick Moltane, Roger Clark, Luke Baines, Julian Feder and Sean Cullen
Bunker Review
Low budget horror movies should always make a choice. Try to be scary or just go wild. Bunker chooses to do neither. It’s never frightening…suspense is nowhere to be found. Although there is an out of left field idea at play…it’s played with little spectacle and fun. Instead, we get a long, slow build to an ending that lacks the excitement to justify the wait. The production is strong…but the lack of thrills make for a tedious time. Bunker attempts to be an allegory for the horrors of war…but its metaphor just comes off strange and off-putting.
A group of British and American soldiers become trapped inside a German bunker during World War 1. They find a German soldier crucified to a wall, but still alive. They attempt to work together to escape…but mistrust builds as some are slowly consumed by madness. Oh…and there’s something strange that appears to be infecting people.
I purposely threw that last line out there as an afterthought because that’s how the whole thing feels while watching Bunker. We eventually get a reason that the soldiers are losing their minds and becoming confrontational. It’s all a way to send a message that war and conflict are evil. Sloppily explained and barely understandable…it also comes too late in the game to be invested in.
But it’s not all bad in Bunker. The cast does a solid job of making their characters feel lived in and relatable. Most of it anyway. There is, in my view, one standout highlight reel performance from Patrick Moltane as Lieutenant Turner. Moltane makes a meal out of every word he delivers in Bunker. He’s acting in a completely different, and frankly more entertaining, movie than the rest of the cast. His performance is so interesting that I feel like recommending Bunker based on it alone.
Turner is the man in charge of the rag tag unit of strangers. While madness strikes other people quickly and leads to moments of activity…Turner’s descent is far slower. He doesn’t trust the German captive or the American allies. He holds it together for as long as he can…but we know that he is inevitably going to turn into a problem for the survivors.
Bunker doesn’t have an easily defined lead character for a while, but Segura (Eddie Ramos) falls into the role eventually. This mostly happens because he doesn’t start losing his mind like the rest of the troop. He shows kindness to the German soldier…understanding he was drafted into this and wasn’t there by choice. This does little to endear him to Lt. Turner.
As mentioned, the movie looks great. It gets past budget limitations by making what they do have to work with look great. It’s mostly cave walls and foggy nights…but it looks wonderful. Sound design and gore effects are on point too. The score can be a little over bearing at times…but that’s mostly because it’s accentuating so little happening in frame. It feels like a well-produced play.
At least until the final act. When things come to a head (and the cause of everything is revealed) Bunker does start making some moves. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go big enough or get wild enough. The cast has done their best to make you care about their fates…but the explanation the movie lays out for what is happening to them is underwhelming. In the end, Bunker is a long wait for little. A good-looking wait with a fascinating performance…but a mostly boring one.
Scare Value
Bunker is a movie about the horrors of war…told on a small scale. At times it feels like a play. Waiting too long to get to the weirdness…and failing to push it far enough, Bunker feels less than it intends to be. We’ve talked before about slow burns needing to lead to a worthy explosion at some point…Bunker didn’t get that note.
2/5
Bunker Link
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Bunker Trailer
If you enjoyed this review of Bunker, check out a completely unrelated movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors or another new release like Jethica or We Have a Ghost
