ReelBob: ‘Greywood’s Plot’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

“Greywood’s Plot” is a low-budget, black-and-white B-movie that is a comic-horror-mad-scientist feature that, underneath all its trappings, is actually about the desire to be recognized and noticed.

Dominic, played by Josh Stifter, who also directs-cowrote and shot the movie, is a podcaster who tries to prove the existence of creatures such as Sasquatch. His website is doing poorly, having just nine likes and 115 thumbs down, along with a batch of unkind comments.

Dom lives in the basement with his mother. His only friend is Miles (Keith Radichel) who is more interested in drinking beer than going monster hunting with Dom.

When Dom receives a mysterious VHS tape, which he shows Miles, he convinces his skeptical friend to travel to the area indicated in a note attached to the tape to search and record El Chupacabra.

What they find is more horrific and life changing than they imagined.

The movie has a ’80s slasher vibe combined with a “Blair Witch Project” sensibility. The story is rudimentary and unfolds in a manner in which, to a keen eye, provides no actual surprises.

That, however, is not a detriment. And it is not the “who” but the “why” of the story that intrigues you.

Stifter’s Dominic is starved for acknowledgement; it is his sole purpose in life. “You want to be heard, to be seen,” Doug Greywood (co-writer Daniel Degnan) tells Dom.

And Doug is the one who can help Dom fulfill his desire, but not in the conventional way the podcaster anticipated.

Stifter, who also shot the film, creates an aura of unspecified danger with his, at times, lurid black-and-white photography.

As the movie progresses, the air of tension increases. You know something bad is going to occur.

The movie’s finale act erases the comedy that came before and transforms into a grisly and gory nightmare that, thankfully, is blunted by the lack of color.

“Greywood’s Plot” is an old fashioned, scary feature that belies its low budget and limited cast. It takes you on a bump-in-the-night ride that you won’t soon forget.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

GREYWOOD’S PLOT
3 stars out of 4
Not rated, scary and bloody images, violence, language