Experience an Engaging Character-Driven Tale of Sisterhood and Survival Amidst Classic Horror Tropes

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MOVIE REVIEW
Bury the Bride
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 23m
Director(s): Spider One
Writer(s): Krsy Fox, Spider One
Cast: Krsy Fox, Scout Taylor-Compton, Dylan Rourke, Chaz Bono, Lyndsi LaRose, Rachel Brunner, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Katie Ryan, Adam Marcinowski
Where To Watch: debuting across North America on Tubi April 21, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: Let me be a fanboy for a moment! This film, directed by Spider One (lead singer of Powerman 5000) and starring his fiance Krsy Fox as well as Scout Taylor-Compton (Laurie Strode from Rob Zombie’s (Spider’s brother) Halloween films), is kind of a perfect mix. I didn’t realize Spider had directed another movie before this ALLEGORIA to mixed reviews. However, he seems to have shaken whatever wasn’t working because this was a blast.

BURY THE BRIDE takes a thrilling detour from Spider One's earlier semi-experimental style seen in his debut film, ALLEGORIA. This film is what true indie horror should be; it’s fun, violent, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Somewhat following in his brother's footsteps, he tackles the “hillbilly” subgenre and, for the most part, succeeds in everything he is trying to accomplish.

BURY THE BRIDE won’t keep you up at night thinking about the deep meaning behind the motives of each character, but it does enough with some fun twists and a solid cast of characters to hold most genre fans' attention. While it may not revolutionize the slasher genre, the writers have undeniably enhanced its appeal. The film goes full-bore once it gets started, relying heavily on some classic horror stereotypes.

The narrative revolves around June (Scout Taylor-Compton), who picks a spooky, isolated house for her bachelorette party (what are the odds? Lol.) Her older sister, Sadie (Krsy Fox), disapproves of the venue. The film goes crazy one June’s fiance, and his friends join the party. However, I will admit that my initial thoughts were entirely wrong, and I saw it playing out completely differently.

Scout Taylor-Compton's portrayal of June was fascinating because you could tell that this wasn’t the role written that was being performed the way she intended. At times, it felt like there was a struggle as to who this character was and what she saw them being. However, her and Fox’s performance was fantastic, playing off each other and their insecurities. You would be forgiven if you thought they were sisters in real life.
This is a passion project through and through; while the film had some weak spots, each portion was given every ounce of attention. Even sound design is not something you’d typically notice in an indie horror film. Still, I heard several instances of precisely the level of detail given to everything.

The narrative flourishes thanks to the strengths and weaknesses found in the characters and their performances; there were several characters that I found myself rooting for. That takes effort; it's easy to slap some blood and gore on the screen, but to be invested in a character's survival is a different level.

In conclusion, BURY THE BRIDE is a thrilling, character-focused genre film that blends classic horror ingredients with some unexpected twists. The emphasis on sisterhood and female friendships enriches the storyline, and the indie feel of the film makes it even more relatable.

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[photo courtesy of TUBI FILMS]