Staunton Hill is a movie by Pittsburgh based director, George Cameron Romero, about a group of hikers who unwittingly become involved with a diabolical body-part dealing family.
Supposedly set in 1969, a group 20-something friends are hitchhiking to a rally. The group includes Cole, played by David Rountree (Cut!), who also wrote the movie. Jordan (Cristen Coopen- Road Trip), Boone (Kiko Ellsworth- Bad Boys 2), Raina (Christine Carlo- General Hospital TV series), and Trish (Paula Rhodes- Shuffle). The friends are picked up by kind stranger Quintin (Charlie Bodin- Transformers) who offers to take them to the rally.
The ride doesn’t last long, as while on the back roads, Quintin’s truck overheats and they are forced to walk, reaching a farm and spending the night in what they assume is a deserted barn. The next morning, they meet the farm’s deranged inhabitants, Buddy (B.J. Hendricks), Louise (Kathy Lamkin- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning 2006), and Geraldine (Sherry Weston- In the Eyes of a Killer), and the young travelers soon get the terrible feeling that something is wrong in Staunton Hill.
As they wonder where to go next, they slowly begin to be picked off one by one by the butchering family, unaware there is a villain amongst the gang.
What Staunton Hill has going for its few inspired moments of gore, and how the killer casually goes about brutally disposing of his victims.
Character development was lacking as we woefully learn little about everyone involved. It would have been nice to know a little bit more about the characters so we could care more about them, but the acting was pretty solid, which was a nice surprise.
If you’re a fan of the “demented country family” subgenre, you may want to check this out. While clichéd and boring in parts, Staunton Hill, has some good gory moments and is one of the better B-grade horror movies out there.
WICKED RATING: 5.5/10
Title: Staunton Hill
Director(s): George Cameron Romero
Writer(s): David Rountree
Stars: Kathy Lamkin, Cristen Coppen, David Rountree
Year: 2009
Studio/ Production Co: Batpack Studios, Psycho Rock Productions, Staunton Films
Budget: (unknown)
Language: English
Length: 90mins
Sub-Genre: Thriller
