Head Trauma (2005)
Review by Peter Syslo



HEAD TRAUMA (2006) is an independent horror film which was filmed in my neck of the woods: Scranton, Pennsylvania (Yes, the same town where “The Office” television series is supposed to take place). Scranton has some deep horror roots because it is also the hometown of Jason Miller, who played Father Karras in THE EXORCIST. He has now passed on, but I remember him most for his role in one of the top horror films of all time. Strangely enough, the name of my band, “Crucervix” is based-upon that scene in THE EXORCIST, where possessed Regan is plunging the crucifix into herself (this is turning into the Scranton/Exorcist version of “six degrees of separation”). But, enough about me. HEAD TRAUMA is one of those “keep-you-guessing-'till-the-end” type of films and it is actually done with some style and some degree of originality (and it was recently premiered on Showtime). I kid you not, Penn's Woods has a lot to offer in the horror realm.

HEAD TRAUMA is directed by Lance Weiler and it is written by Brian Majeska and Weiler. The film stars Vince Mola, Jamil A.C. Mangan, Mary Monahan, Meryl Lynn Brown, and Brandee Sanders.

The film is about a man named George (Mola), who returns to his deceased grandmother's home, in order to clean and maintain it (squatters have trashed the place). George hasn't been back to the place for a number of years; he finds that the neighborhood has changed a bit and he learns that the house is set to be demolished. Hell-bent on saving the house, George sets out to fix it up with the help of a neighbor, Julian (Mangan). But, George starts having strange nightmares and he is finding things around the house that are triggering dark visions. George struggles to rescue the house, he attempts to preserve his sanity, and he eventually learns the true secrets that are hidden in the house.

HEAD TRAUMA is based upon the “something bad happened in this place, now the place is re-enacting it for you” concept. We've seen it in things from the original THE SHINING to THE GRUDGE and the concept is a little worse for wear. However, HEAD TRAUMA put a little bit of a different spin on it. In the end, it turns out to be something that you didn't expect. About ¾ of the way through, you kind of see it coming, but it still has an element of surprise and it is very plausible – it should satisfy those extreme “realists” in the audience (did you ever have a friend that just picked apart every detail in a film? Saying things like, “How did that guy open the door! That model of brass knob is self-locking from the other side...”). In fact, the film is actually more of a psychological thriller with a horror twist; one of the cool things about it is that you are not sure if things are truly supernatural or if they are just part of George's crazy mind. That i s what really makes this movie unique – and it is far from being boring and mundane (like a lot of these types of films are).

There are also a few good scares in this film. A few “startle” moments keep the pace going and it is the best scary use of a snorkel jacket that I have seen. Also, I don't know if it is the degree of reality of the independent production or not, but the house was pretty creepy - without being made up to be creepy. It gave you the feeling of being alone in an abandoned house, where every slight noise seems to make your skin crawl (the filmmakers really found the perfect house for this). Along with the scares, the whole “mystery” aspect of the story is quite compelling; George finds various things in the house that make it seem like he is being haunted by someone or something. The film gives you little pieces and clues along the way that lead up to the ”aha” moment when George finally solves the mystery. Nice pacing, nice suspense, and nice dramatic interludes made HEAD TRAUMA very effective.

Gnawing through the flesh: HEAD TRAUMA was a pretty good independent production, which was a fulfilling horror film/thriller. The production quality is excellent; cinematography is superb (it's not handheld) and it really brings out the best in each setting (especially the house). The audio was of the highest quality and all dialogue was perfectly clear. All of the acting was very good; Mola was well-cast as George, because he had that quality where he was entertaining to watch. A lot of the film is one-man action (like CASTAWAY) and Mola had the charisma and presence to pull that off. Also, he brought out the odd side of the character which made you wonder about what kind of guy he really was (he lingered uncomfortable at a woman's house – tough to watch). The George character made the film, along with the character of the house. I did say that I liked the pacing of the film, but I also have to mention that it is not a slam-bang horror fest where mult iple people get killed. On the contrary, it is more of a psychological film which makes greater use of atmosphere, acting, and storyline. It may not be for every horror fan, but I do encourage you to give the film a try because it is well worth it. I give HEAD TRAUMA an 8/10.