Hold the Fort is a fun, funny, zippy horror action comedy having its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival 2025.
You would think that moving into a gated community, the HOA would be the biggest problem. Not true for couple Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary). Turns out that the biggest issue is their quaint gated community built on a rift to hell that the residents must regularly close and fight demons that spew out from. Having not read their HOA contract (who does really) they are thrust into the battle of good vs evil their very first night, which happens to coincide with the equinox. These two Gen-Z city dwellers are Ill-equipped to handle the Chinese vampires (not the hopping kind unfortunately), witches, and other impish delights that wait for them. So much so, Lucas and Jenny seem to make it worse as the night goes on.
What makes Hold the Fort, the second feature film from writer/director William Bagley, so funny is its characters’ reaction to the unbelievable. The comedy (dark as in most horror comedies) comes from just how cowardly Lucas is in the face of demons. His cowardice causing so much irreparable collateral damage that you can’t help but laugh at its ridiculousness of it all. The way the film stages its action set pieces speaks to Bagley, the stunt team, Make-up, and Visual effects artists’ expertise in creating effective monsters and gore moments.
The film does accomplish what many others do not, which is not to outstay its welcome. Bagley, who edited the film as well, gives us a tightly constructed film that hits the ground running and doesn’t let up until its credits (stay for the great behind-the-scenes credit sequence too). Even with an opening prologue, the film runs at a brisk 75 minutes. Though Bagley finds the pockets and lulls to allow for some great character moments throughout.
Hold the Fort is a rare indie horror comedy that manages to be funny.
Hold the Fort plays the Fantasia Film Festival 2025, July 16th and July 26th
Hold the Fort is a fun, funny, zippy horror action comedy having its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival 2025.
You would think that moving into a gated community, the HOA would be the biggest problem. Not true for couple Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary). Turns out that the biggest issue is their quaint gated community built on a rift to hell that the residents must regularly close and fight demons that spew out from. Having not read their HOA contract (who does really) they are thrust into the battle of good vs evil their very first night, which happens to coincide with the equinox. These two Gen-Z city dwellers are Ill-equipped to handle the Chinese vampires (not the hopping kind unfortunately), witches, and other impish delights that wait for them. So much so, Lucas and Jenny seem to make it worse as the night goes on.
What makes Hold the Fort, the second feature film from writer/director William Bagley, so funny is its characters’ reaction to the unbelievable. The comedy (dark as in most horror comedies) comes from just how cowardly Lucas is in the face of demons. His cowardice causing so much irreparable collateral damage that you can’t help but laugh at its ridiculousness of it all. The way the film stages its action set pieces speaks to Bagley, the stunt team, Make-up, and Visual effects artists’ expertise in creating effective monsters and gore moments.
The film does accomplish what many others do not, which is not to outstay its welcome. Bagley, who edited the film as well, gives us a tightly constructed film that hits the ground running and doesn’t let up until its credits (stay for the great behind-the-scenes credit sequence too). Even with an opening prologue, the film runs at a brisk 75 minutes. Though Bagley finds the pockets and lulls to allow for some great character moments throughout.
Hold the Fort is a rare indie horror comedy that manages to be funny.
Hold the Fort plays the Fantasia Film Festival 2025, July 16th and July 26th
Share this:
Like this:
Discover more from The Movie Isle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.