Angel

No-budget flick set in Kentucky is watchable despite some dubious elements

When a girl goes missing near an infamous abandoned town, an investigative team is hired to search the dilapidated area to find her or, at least, what happened to her, as well as other missing people.

“Angel” (2018) only cost $12,118 and was helmed by a native Kentuckian. I’ve seen spare change budget Indies by aspiring moviemakers filming in their beloved regions that are so amateurish they’re unwatchable. Thankfully, this one has enough positives to make it a fairly entertaining viewing experience; that is, as long as you can roll with some stilted acting and a few unconvincing (to be nice) action sequences.

What’s good about it? The eldritch woods and rundown factory in the fall make for a great setting, reminiscent of “Death Tunnel,” minus the snazzy editing (that many viewers found confusing and irritating). Furthermore, the cinematography, score and sound quality are all professional. On top of this, the stunning Talia Schade as Selina is almost worth the price of admission. Unfortunately, she’s removed from the proceedings too soon; I would’ve preferred her being one of the final girls, like Piper or Mya. Speaking of Piper, blonde Cameryn Zupon is worth a mention in the feminine department, although her acting needs work.

Besides the questionable acting and lame fight scenes, critics might complain about some elements of the script, but the writer/director respected the intelligence of the viewer to put the pieces together. For instance, how does the serial killer, Vance, work into the proceedings. Why is so-and-so alive at the end? How does the antagonist have the strength to do what this person/thing does? Think “Memorial Valley Massacre.”

Considering the non-budget, it’s amazing “Angel” is a watchable as it is.

It runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was shot mostly in Louisville, Kentucky, but also rural areas southeast of Lexington, such as Irvine, Slade, Stanton and Richmond, as well as Frankfort, which is between those two cities.

GRADE: C-/C