The opening of the Trash Arts anthology Exhibition Of Evil sees The Curator (Robbie Hampstead) walking into the most mysterious room of his private museum. The collection houses only six pieces, each with a tale of terror. The first artifact is a pendulum with YES and NO written on it.
“Don’t Look” sees a man (Jackson Batchelor) seeking the ultimate thrill. He and a woman (Holly McLachlan) use the pendulum to contact spirits from the beyond. But what happens when they summon a demon (Anastasia Dumitrui) with death on its mind?
This segment is short on characterization, most evident in the fact that no one has a name. That also means there’s no real arc for the characters. But it is in ample supply of suspense. The editing, by Jessica Hunt and Sam Mason-Bell, is fast and furious, creating a rhythm for jump scares galore. Is it creepy? Not really. But it’s scary in that spill-the-popcorn kind of way.
“The collection houses only six pieces, each with a tale of terror.”
The next section in Exhibition Of Evil is “Golden Boy.” Orestes (Charlie Bentley) is receiving a prestigious company award. But on what should be one of the highlights of his career, the slick shill finds himself tied to a chair. Surrounding him are three women in masks. Alecto (Robyn Adams), Tisiphone (Anaïs Marden), and Megaea (Maria Kyracoui) want Orestes to admit to all his wrongs concerning their clients. At first, he’s confused and claims to be innocent. But the ladies beat some sense into him. Is Orestes the man they were after? If so, what did he do to deserve this punishment?
The two-way perspective of Sam Mason-Bell’s cinematography creates tension. Bentley plays his part with the right amount of charisma and slime. Adams, Marden, and Kyracoui are clearly having fun. The special effects make-up is quite good and gruesome. However, a few questions remain: how were the ladies able to grab and tie Orestes? What does screenwriter Bhuna Boy want audiences to take away at the end? I am not sure about that last one.
Then the Curator allows “The Medusa Stone” to terrify viewers. It begins with a blind man being attacked and robbed by a beggar (Stephen Longhurst). The stolen item is a pendant on a very lovely gold chain. After hiding out, the beggar examines the trinket and is turned to stone. This is how the necklace comes into the possession of a detective. The officer looks at it and sees a flash of Medusa (Clair Wheeler) and turns to stone. Then the necklace gets into the hands of a doctor.
Following the way the necklace is passed from owner to owner gives Exhibition Of Evil a The Red Violin flavor. The black-and-white filming lends credence to the Victorian-era setting. The fear comes from not knowing when the curse of the necklace will strike. Director Batchelor keeps the atmosphere dreadful and strange. The creeps culminate into something truly wild.
