The Shed takes a concept that initially seems comical, but embeds that concept in a highly emotional context that results in a rewarding exploration of responsibility and overcoming adversity.
Synopsis: When you’re the outcast, the underdog; they all think they can mess with you. But what happens when you have a vampire in your shed? The game changes and everyone becomes a target. Make a choice, who lives, who dies? Who enters The Shed?
While the “there’s a vampire in the shed” is the main hook of The Shed, the actual film has far more depth, heart and thought than that central idea at first presents. Troubled Stan (Jay Jay Warren) already has a lot to contend with, between the loss of his parents, his abusive grandfather (Timothy Bottoms), a pending probation hearing and an uneasy relationship with his would-be love interest Roxy (Sofia Happonen). Upon discovery of the vampire his gleefully misanthropic best friend Dommer (Cody Kostro) instantly declares the monster as a tool to end their problems with local bullies.
Much of The Shed‘s appeal lies in a likeable central performance by Jay Jay Warren as Stan. He handles the material incredibly well, quickly becoming a character we want to root for. Cody Kostro’s rather more unhinged performance as Dommer balances well against Warren’s sullen, thoughtful Stan. As outsiders, the pair is repeatedly physically attacked by bullies led by Marble (Chris Petrovski) and their characters are defined by their responses to this. Dommer’s desire for revenge and Stan’s desire to escape drive the narrative.
Writer Jason Rice and writer/director Frank Sabatella have relatively little experience (Rice’s IMDB only lists this film) so what they’ve been able to achieve here is commendable. There is an overuse of Stan waking with a start from a nightmare, which highlights his troubled mental state but could be handled with more sophistication and less repetition, even if some sequences are interesting. The element that makes the film stand out is the clash between Dommer and Stan’s ideals so it is something of a shame that the third act abandons this for a more action-based finale. There are some excellent moments, including some surprisingly well-placed comic beats but the climactic stages feel more familiar to other films than the earlier tensions.
The vampire design is excellent with solid effects work providing distinctly monstrous creatures. The Shed‘s vampires are brutal, fast and unpredictable. Editing tricks used to portray their super speed and strength is a brilliant touch showcasing how much thought has been put into the presentation of them. Vampires are easily parodied and this occasionally means they aren’t as threatening, so The Shed‘s decision to portray them as fast-acting, ruthless creatures adds to the threat considerably.
There is a lot to like about The Shed, with excellent performances supporting a threatening central creature and themes that concern trauma, taking responsibility and how experiences can inform future actions.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Shed is released by Signature Entertainment UK on May 11th.
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