Inbred is a small budget British horror-comedy released in 2011, and on DVD in 2012. It follows the familiar story of a group who go to a small ‘we should probably turn around now because it’s creepy’ kind of Village in Yorkshire, where the locals are a little more than unusual.
Jeff (James Doherty) and Kate (Jo Hartley) are care workers taking 4 young offenders, Sam (Nadine Rose Mulkerrin) Dwight (Chris Waller) Tim (James Burrows) and Gris (Neil Leiper) on a weekend away up north. Their aim: to teach them some skills with the hope they’ll reform. What they get is a much more surprising, gore-fest, manic outing as they become the prey of the villagers.
The film has zero fear-factor but that’s not what it’s about, it feels like it’s a comedy first drizzled with a splash of horror, taking inspirations from so many British horror-comedies that have been successful over the years. The horror element comes from the situation, of course, but more so the amount of gore that follows. The film basks in it and while there have been some complaints it’s a little over the top; for any film fan who loves a good gore flick this is a little gem for you. That’s exactly what the film is.
Unknown to most, the film gained popularity when the mayor of the Village it was primarily shot in, Thirsk North Yorkshire, spoke out against the film until discovering it was more of a light hearted flick, rather than a dark horror. This gave the film the spotlight it needed (maybe a good marketing campaign from the beginning) to get the name out there, unveiling a little gem. A greatly important title to have, being that British filmmaking has been dealt a blow recently with funding cuts, and being told that only ‘Big Blockbuster Titles’ will get support, something British films are rarely famed for. This highlights the importance of funding smaller independent films that can come out and surprise the public. Inbred, maybe inadvertently, flies the flag for this issue. It’s still growing in reputation and over the years might become a nice cult classic, it delivers an enjoyable viewing in it’s 90 minutes. The cast, with a nice mix of experience and up and comers (we get a nice cameo from Dominic Brunt, soap favourite Paddy in Emmerdale) help the film along it’s way. Although it seems we’re never really meant to root for the central characters, but rather the villagers in a weird twisted way. It’s the people of Mortlake (fictitious town in the film) that really make the story what it is: warped, barmy and utterly hilarious at times. There’s something about The Yorkshire accent, it creates the believable scenario that these people are a little…..backwards. The southern accent would be completely out of place in this kind of setting, and it was a stroke of genius sending them further up north in the country.
Although not an original story (then again how many horrors are these days?) Inbred is very enjoyable and its influences – The League of Gentlemen but there’s a fair shout for The Wicker Man too – are there to be seen. You shouldn’t condemn Inbred for this but instead praise it, for using such classics and putting it’s own style into the cocktail.
Rating: Not an original story by far but bound to make you laugh from start to finish (5.2/10)
Inbred, directed by Alex Chandon, is available on DVD now.
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