Mischief Night (2014 Baker film)

Plot

Baker's film takes a much more sinister approach to the holiday, when a young babysitter named Kaylie is stalked throughout the night by a murderer. The film takes on a slasher film approach, meaning the night is much more violent than the normal minor vandalism that normally occurs. Early in the film she is warned by the night watchman not to answer the door, due to what normally happens on Mischief Night.

To her surprise Kaylie (Brooke Anne Smith), witnesses the other youths roaming the streets and causing all sorts of havoc on the neighbourhood. Little known to her at the time, an knife-wielding masked maniac (Marc Valera) is stalking her every move. Malcolm McDowell plays the watchman who warns Kaylie, who states not all is as it seems on Mischief Night.

It is presented in a tried-and-true slasher formula, which was perfected by John Carpenter's 1978 classic Halloween. The film takes a huge plot twist when the girl and the killer end up developing a romantic connection.

Cast

Production and release

Mischief Night was filmed in 2010 at a house in Calabasas, California. Filming took place over 11 days and consisted mostly of night shoots. The film was acquired in late 2013 by After Dark Films and was announced as the seventh film in the After Dark Originals 2 series.

The film went on to premiere at the New York City Horror Film Festival in 2013. It was then released by Lionsgate on DVD video on demand and digital download on May 2014.

It was released in China in 2014 and throughout Europe in 2015 under the title Devil's Night.

Soundtrack

Jeremy Tisser was the composer of the original soundtrack. Additional songs were then provided by Brian Bond, Alex Tsyhkov, and Charles Tyshkov.

Reception

Although reception was mixed, many reviewers singled out the film for its originality and deeper themes. Ollie Coen of DVD Talk wrote, "Thankfully Mischief Night was a surprisingly interesting film, one that took the old premise, mixed it up a bit, and left me pretty satisfied." He went on to describe the film as "a fresh take on a classic story, a new & strange way to look at the genre."

In its 2014 review, Ain't It Cool News wrote of the film, "It's tough to combine multiple genres in a way that simultaneously feels both fresh and familiar - the plot will keep you guessing until the end, and I love that it struck such tight-wire balance with a self-assuredness that keeps you on your toes as it zigs every time you think it's about to zag."

In its review, Something Awful described the movie as one that "was clearly written by someone who loves cheesy horror flicks and all their accompanying features, as it displays a charming sort of self-awareness and affection for the content it's playing with."

However, some felt that despite its bold ideas, the film didn't ultimately succeed. In his review for Film Monthly, Jason Coffman wrote, "there are moments in Mischief Night when the film hits a tone that is entirely its own, and likely what writer/director Travis Baker was aiming for with the film as a whole. Sadly, those moments are fleeting."