My quick rating – 5.8/10. There are plenty of ways to spend Halloween in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Apparently, handing out candy and hoping the neighbors aren’t murderous psychopaths is one of them. Hallowarrior takes the familiar home-invasion formula, throws in a humanity-ending plague, and gives us a heroine who knows her way around a knife. Honestly, what more could you want from a Halloween party?
Following our favorite Shudder logo, the film opens with a home video of a young girl named Pumpkin (Milly Shapiro) carving up, well, you know. When she confidently explains that she needs to keep Mommy safe after being warned to be careful with the knife, you can practically hear the foreshadowing screaming from the screen. Subtle? Not remotely. Effective? Absolutely. Turns out, Pumpkin has a future to live up to as the Hallowarrior.
Fast-forward to a much older, gas-mask-wearing Pumpkin discovering a hanging body in the barn at Tregor Farms. Apparently, the apocalypse has done wonders for the local hospitality industry. She’s seemingly the last person alive, scavenging for supplies while preparing for her favorite holiday. Her Halloween broadcast invites anyone who happens to be listening to come over for the festivities. Because when you’re the last human on Earth, there’s no reason to let a little thing like the extinction of humanity ruin your annual tradition.
Director Ben Sottak does a nice job capturing the grim reality of Pumpkin’s existence. The loneliness feels genuine, and the creepy camera work creates some wonderfully unsettling moments. When company inevitably arrives, however, it’s less trick-or-treat and more trick-or-die. Thalia (Shannyn Sossamon) and Royce (AJ Bowen) bring plenty of bad intentions, while Wendy (Ajani Russell) stands out as an intriguing addition. Her motivation could have used more breathing room, but it makes sense.
The practical effects are suitably brutal, and it’s hard not to root for Pumpkin. Shapiro makes her a likable, unconventional heroine, balancing vulnerability with the sort of resourcefulness that makes you wonder why the rest of humanity couldn’t get its act together. I haven’t seen Shapiro since her turn in the excellent Hereditary, so it was nice to see her leading the charge.
Think The Strangers meets Home Alone, except Kevin’s grown up in the apocalypse and the burglars have considerably worse intentions. At just 78 minutes, Hallowarrior doesn’t overstay its welcome, although a little extra time developing the relationships would have helped. Then again, not knowing exactly who to trust adds to the unease.
It’s a lean, nasty little Halloween treat with a heroine worth cheering for. Just remember. If a stranger shows up at your door on Halloween, maybe check what they are carrying before inviting them inside.
