Director – Zach Schildwachter (Powerbomb, Deathcember)
Starring – Shannon Ahlstrand, Emilee Nichols, and Cameron Box
Release Date – 2024
Rating – 3/5
October is probably my busiest month in regards to content for the site. I do my annual horror binge and review films I had never seen before. On top of that, every production and distribution company releases their horror titles in October so I have films being sent to me for review and press releases to share on the site. I love it but it does get a bit overwhelming at times.
On Halloween director and producer Zach Shildwachter shared his newest short Peopon with me on Facebook. Sadly, by that point I did not have time to check it out and had to add it to my list. I’m a bit bummed I wasn’t able to check out this Halloween horror short on Halloween but I want to thank Zach for sending it over. I may not have got to watch it on Halloween but I still enjoyed it!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a young woman and her scumbag boyfriend as they visit her grandmother on Halloween. Her grandmother has her carving a pumpkin before she goes to bed but she doesn’t. Instead, she stops before she finishes and tries to go see her boyfriend. This would be her undoing as she does not obey Halloween traditions and brings about the end of their lives. **Spoiler Alert**
Peopon is the kind of film I want to watch during the Halloween season. Not only is it centered around Halloween but it looks like a Halloween film. With that being said, it suffers from being too short just like Schildwachter’s other short Frequencies. These films have so much story to tell and a short run time doesn’t do it justice.
The acting in this one is a lot of fun. We have a small cast that works very well with each other. The characters that we do get have great personalities that matches the film’s story.
The story for this one left me with more questions than it had answers. It’s an enjoyable short but can you imagine a feature length film about this creature killing people not following Halloween traditions Trick r’ Treat style? It would be a must see for genre fans and Halloween fans alike. As it is, it still works and has a lot of atmosphere and that Halloween aesthetic that many of us are looking for but you can’t help but think what it could have been.
Finally, has a fun looking puppet but those of you wanting a bloodbath will be very disappointed. The film focuses more on look and atmosphere than it does the death scenes. Overall, Peopon is a solid short but could be an unforgettable feature. I hope Zach finds the time and funds to make this happen!
