PLOT: Follows Lucas and Jenny, who assume their life is lastly coming collectively when the couple turns into owners. Little do they know that their new home comes with a giant catch. Lucas and Jenny quickly discover themselves in a struggle for his or her lives once they develop into trapped in a battle between their Owners Affiliation and an onslaught of monsters from hell.
REVIEW: As Fantasia 2025 kicks off, I’m pleased to say that the primary movie (for me no less than) is a blast. There’s nothing fairly like a horror/comedy that is ready to merely be enjoyable. Typically they will get so wrapped up in making an attempt to be a selected factor, that they lose their identification. And Maintain The Fort manages the enjoyable all through its runtime with over-the-top characters, enjoyable sensible results, and a pacing that retains issues shifting a mile a minute. This has a tone that’s playful, and regardless of all of its loss of life and destruction, is surprisingly amusing and light-weight.
Maintain The Fort appears to be like at Lucas and Jenny, a younger couple who’ve simply purchased their first residence. Nobody advised them the principle downside to the neighborhood (or perhaps they only didn’t learn the high quality print). What looks like a standard social gathering for the Dwelling Proprietor’s Affiliation turns right into a battle towards Witches, Zombies, Bats, and all types of loopy monsters. Seems, there’s a value for not having to pay property tax. And that value is having to kill a bunch of monsters yearly. So they have to band along with their neighbors to attempt to survive the night time.
The solid is actually enjoyable, albeit a bit stereotypical of their presentation. However there’s not an entire lot of time to get these individuals established or give them a lot dimension, so it really works to no less than clarify distinctions between all of them. Lucas is a little bit of a bumbling fool, which could be irritating at occasions, however it’s all for the sake of getting him rise to the event. Jenny, performed by genre-regular Haley Leary, falls in line rapidly with the madness and could be very in cost. Her getting drunk on moonshine earlier than the chaos is nice. But it surely’s the pinnacle of the HOA, Jerry, who actually steals the present. His matter-of-fact supply and unusual vibe made me need an entire different journey with him. His bodily comedy jogged my memory a little bit of Terry Kiser in Weekend at Bernie’s.
The kills are quick and livid, with the violence approaching fairly closely at elements. They usually’re capable of preserve issues gentle sufficient that not one of the deaths actually put a damper on the story. Some individuals might get aggravated that they’re not connecting with the characters sufficient, however I really feel its intentional to maintain issues from getting too dour. There are numerous shootouts occurring, and it’s when the movie can really feel a bit of stale, as it may be bit repetitive. However I received’t lie: I’ll at all times get a kick out of a witch getting shot within the face. There’s additionally very gratifying utilization of a wood sword.
Seeing as how that is very unbiased, a few of the FX work is a bit all over. I actually adore it once they go sensible, however a few of the marrying of digital with sensible generally is a bit tough. I discovered it principally charming, however it’s not going to be for everybody. And it’s very gentle, 74-minute runtime made me want there was just a bit bit extra right here. They’re capable of match lots in right here, however it does really feel like we’re lacking out on extra. I haven’t seen author/director William Bagley‘s prior work, The Murder Podcast, but after this one, I’ll be in search of it out. He’s capable of shoot a slick movie that by no means loses its momentum and juggles an ensemble of characters fairly nicely. His transitions between scenes present somebody that actually is aware of what they’re doing.
In the end, I actually loved my time with Maintain the Fort. It’s foolish, has some good laughs, and gave me the identical feeling I had when watching horror/comedies of the 2000s like Useless & Breakfast or Jack Brooks Monster Slayer. The humor can really feel a bit “Haha, didn’t I say something funny?” at occasions, however it by no means dampers the movie. That includes a biggest hits of basic monsters, it additionally manages to introduce a brand new villain that could be a nice design and, to my data, wholly unique. It’s a bit tough across the edges, however it manages to hit the right tone for a horror/comedy.
HOLD THE FORT IS CURRENTLY PLAYING AT FANTASIA 2025 AND RELEASES ELSEWHERE ON AUGUST 23RD, 2025.
