[Movie Review] BUNKER
BUNKER l Blue Fox Entertainment

Trapped underground with no escape from strangers is a basic recipe for horror. Sadly enough, these were conditions many found themselves in during World War I. Soldiers huddled in trenches with nothing around them but the smell of death and near-perpetual darkness, horror sparks the imagination. We get a glimpse of this horror in the World War I horror-thriller, BUNKER.

Directed by Adrian Langley and written by Michael Huntsman, the film’s setting lends itself to potential horror success. However, the slow pacing and limited spacing in relation to the runtime make the natural isolation-driven tension dissipate. As a character piece, it succeeds as we watch each soldier have their moment.

Set towards the end of World War I, BUNKER throws Americans, the British, and a German prisoner of war together in a bunker. The Americans and British take an opportunity to seize German ground in the trenches, but it is revealed it is a trap. Left with minimal options, they flee into the bunker only to find a different sort of hell. Something or someone is set on stirring trouble in the men, and it will do everything in its power to ensure death reigns.

A character-driven tale

Courtesy Blue Fox Entertainment

As mentioned previously, BUNKER itself functions better as a character-driven piece than outright horror. There is great usage of shadows and questionable milky substances to bring on the ick factor. There are clear set-ups to drive tension, but the slow-beating nature of the pace keeps it from truly terrifying.

That said, no one can deny that the writing, direction, and performances enable us to intimately understand the characters in BUNKER. Making his surprising feature debut is Patrick Moltane as the commanding, scene-stealing Lt. Turner. The experience theatrical actor chews the scenery and sets the bar for his castmates around him. His performance increasingly becomes unhinged until fully embraces the madness that consumes him. Well done. May more film roles come Moltane’s way.

Luke Baines is a quiet calm presence. His appearance and accent work already render him suspicious here. It is in the intimate moments with Eddie Ramos’ Segura that let us peek behind the steely visage he maintains. Segura is the clear moral compass of BUNKER, even despite the nationalist and racial digs made at his expense by Lt. Turner. This role gives Eddie Ramos space to showcase his range and, for the most part, he succeeds. Both Baines and Ramos provide balance with the more emotionally unbalanced characters.

BUNKER and its potential

Courtesy Blue Fox Entertainment

The art department, production design team, and set decoration work in BUNKER are superb. Knowing that things were shot in sequence and the tight schedule the team was on, the hard work is noticed here. Jos Hurt’s costume design work also shines, especially in maintaining the difference in detail with the uniforms. The one issue I have is with the creature not quite fitting into the overall vibe of the BUNKER. The work on the costume and FX makeup is great. There’s nothing wrong with that. More of a personal preference than not, but a creature that felt lived in and also assimilated into the surroundings might have worked better. As is, once revealed, it stood out but didn’t quite feel natural to the environment established.

Overall, there is a lot of potential in BUNKER. Its slow pacing works specifically in allowing us moments with each character. The downside of the slow pacing is that the build of tension and dread takes too long, ultimately undercutting the predictable reveal near the end of the film. If you focus on it being more like a psychological character-focused work, it may be better received. Coupled with the performances from its cast, that is where BUNKER excels.

WWI horror thriller BUNKER is now available in 150+ theaters in over 50 markets via Blue Fox Entertainment.

Sarah Musnicky
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