A traveling carnival comprised of a father, three sons, and a daughter makes its way through Britain; however, when patrons begin to disappear, it draws the attention of an investigator who doesn’t mess around. Chaos follows. "The Midnight Horror Show," also known as “Theatre of Fear,” came out in 2014-2015 and is a low-budget Welsh film that shows a clear influence from Rob Zombie's "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil’s Rejects” from the early 2000s. I decided to watch this independent film because the preview seemed interesting, and it turns out that feeling is pretty much what you get in the opening sequence. The theme song by Bobby Cole is fantastic and almost worth the price of admission alone; a complete version plays during the closing credits. Aside from the well-executed beginning, it's obvious this is a low-budget production from one person, Andrew Jones (who handled producing, writing, and directing), which is noticeable in the lack of wide shots. Almost every camera angle feels like a close-up, likely to save money on locations and set construction. “Pathfinders: In the Company of Strangers” (2011) had the same problem. If you’re able to overlook that limitation, there's still enough here for those who enjoy films made on a shoestring budget. Besides the great title song, the cast, mostly unknown actors, does a good job; Jared Morgan as the leader and Nathan Head as the scarred clown are particularly memorable, along with Shireen Ashton in her role as Venus. (Sarah Louise Madison and Tiffany Ceri also deserve a mention.) There’s a vibrant sense of artistry combined with a touch of spirituality within all the family-related craziness. The clown's storyline is notable, as is the ventriloquist's struggle with his bold dummy – which seems to represent an internal conflict that many people can understand. Meanwhile, the gore is effective if you’re into that sort of thing (and it isn’t excessive). I wouldn’t describe this movie as very scary because it emphasizes drama, but it does create a certain atmosphere and there are some thrills to be experienced, plus the unexpected conclusion to the clown's story is quite shocking. Giving this film a grade is difficult because what works is really good, like the music, while the issues are pretty clear. The movie has a runtime of approximately one hour and twenty-one minutes and was filmed in South Wales. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB