Folk Horror and Creature Features are both sub-genres of horror I really enjoy. When I first saw the trailer for Gator Face, I was intrigued because it seemed to mix these sub-genres with a Slasher film. Based on the trailer, it seemed like it was one of those movies that I would be into because of how insane it appeared to get. Was I right? Was it my brand of vodka, so to speak? Yes and no, let’s get into it.
Gator Face follows a group of friends whose sun-soaked Florida vacation takes a dark turn when they become prey to a sinister cult that sacrifices its victims to an alligator god. Far from the carefree escape they had planned, the friends are drawn deeper into an isolated world governed by ritual and violence, forcing them into a desperate fight to survive both the cult and the deadly creature at the center of its beliefs.
Amariah Dionne in Gator Face
So I’ll get the obvious out of the way. Gator Face is fairly derivative on its surface. One could easily compare it to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Things like the gritty way it looks, the van, an elder character similar to The Cook, the car “cemetery”, etc. The van that Gator Face drives also looks like the one from High Tension. I did find myself often thinking that it felt like someone asked, “What if The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was set in Florida and used a creature feature plot device instead of cannibalism?”
Now that we’re done with that. I can tell you that despite the aforementioned things, I still had a good time watching this movie. This film delivers on giving horror fans what they always say they want: practical effects and gore. The film wastes no time kicking off its kills. At a brief 80 minutes, the film moves at a brisk pace. There is enough exposition to keep you interested, but it doesn’t feel like it overstays its welcome. Additionally, the use of real alligators and alligator b-roll lends some real fun to the creature feature side of things.
Tabitha Brownstone in Gator Face
Something I really enjoy is when a sub-genre sneaks up on you. The folk horror aspects of Gator Face worked really well for me. Seeing more folk horror with what feels like American iconography hits hard for me. Sure, gators and crocodiles have been used in practices from other countries, but the way it was presented in Gator Face felt especially unique to the Everglades. Between films like HIM and this, I hope we see more folk horror that leans away from the common touchstones of the European style we’re accustomed to. The things you’d want from a slasher are creature feature are also here, which does make things a little messy but also fun. This feels like the exploitation cinema you’d expect from the drive-in in the ’70s.
Overall, Gator Face is a bit of a mixed bag, but I had a good time with it. If there were a sequel, I’d very likely give it a watch. Of course, mileage may vary, but I’d say it’s worth renting, especially if you’re seeking a bit of campiness. Gator Face is out now on VOD.
My Rating: 3/5