Big Top Evil

Big Top Evil is a 2019 American independent horror movie directed by Sean Haitz and Chris Potter. Star-studded by Sean Haitz himself, veteran horror icon Bill Moseley and promising talent Austin Judd, the film blends jaw-dropping horror elements with a road trip story to craft a unique cinematic experience.

The story orbits primarily around five travelers and their journey to the legendary Mangrove Slasher film site in southern Florida. With instruction from movie geek Donnie (played by Austin Judd) and guidance from the charismatic enigmatic Jay (Sean Haitz), the seemingly carefree trip starts off with harmless fun, sharing travel stories, and making pit stops, gradually merging into horror tropes of the all too familiar - where expectation meets reality. Along the way, they pick up a free-spirited hitchhiker who unsuspectingly puts the group in the crosshairs of a deranged Big Top Circus Broadcasting Network horror show, forging an unexpected turn into terror.

Bill Moseley, known for his roles in successful movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 and The Devil's Rejects, yet again proves his exceptional prowess in spine-chilling characters with his portrayal of Mr. Kharver, the psychotic clown that turns out to be the nightmarish icon of the circus freaks. He commands the screen with his idiosyncratic performances, securing the film firmly in the territory of blood-curdling horror.

Similarly, Sean Haitz, who also co-directed the movie, participates in the action with impressive dexterity and creates an intriguing character in the form of Jay. A woven narrative ultimately clashing him with Moseley’s character. Austin Judd playing the role of Donnie, provides a nimble performance as an unsuspecting fan turned potential victim of this twisted circus game.

Shot primarily in Florida, the movie wonderfully captures rural Americana's atmosphere contributing to its authentic road trip feel. Moreover, the Big Top Circus set, designed to mirror a depraved and monstrous carnival, boasts of chilling aesthetics. This setting serves as the backdrop for the climax of the film, contributing significantly to the impending sense of dread and horror.

The film not only tests the physical survival but also the psychological survival of both the characters and the audience, as it unravels its tale with unexpected turns and maniacal manifestations. Much of the appeal of the film lies in Sean Haitz’s and Chris Potter’s approach to blending horror conventions with their unique and quirky vision.

Sound and score play a pivotal role in this horror film as they often augment tension and fear. The eerie music and quintessential eerie sounds accompanying the circus set amplify the bone-chilling ambiance. Resonance is felt in Moseley’s creepy lines that he delivers with his signature style. Providing comic relief at times and gruesomely shocking in the others, his dialogues exemplify the power of the script catered to the appropriate horror setting.

While the movie honors the tradition of old-school horror tropes like the misunderstood hero, the cruel antagonist clown, and the damsel in distress, it manages to surface as an independent horror film tackling its own unique take on these stereotypical characters and archetypical conventions.

The film is graphically explicit, full of adrenaline pumping chase sequences and graphic killings that captivate the audience's attention right till the conclusion. Between the journey to the Mangrove Slasher film site, the interruptions by the hitchhiker, the relentless pursuit by Mr. Kharver, the unexpected plot twists, and the bloody encounters at the circus, the narrative is truly a roller coaster ride from start to finish.

Ultimately, Big Top Evil is a must-watch for anyone with a taste for horror. Strikingly original at parts and deliciously disturbing throughout, it delivers a wallop of scares interspersed with memorable characters, tangible tension, and a setting that’s as eerie as they come. It adds a sinister twist to an ordinary road trip, making for one terrifying journey that breaks away from the humdrum monotony of conventional horror films. For fans of slasher movies and circus horror, it's a roller coaster ride they wouldn't want to miss.