Lord of Tears (2013).

Dread. Long has this feeling been absent from horror movies. Lawrie Brewster's Lord of Tears brings this feeling back, and blends it with many classic horror tricks such as the use of shadows, atmosphere and a genuinely chilling ambience to create something entirely different and incredibly effective.

A teacher named James, after the death of his mother, inherits his family's estate. His mother, although leaving it to him, requests that he never goes there. Of course, James defies his mother and moves into the house, where his long repressed memories awaken giving him terrible nightmares about a man with the head of an owl, and enormous talons for hands. The Owlman speaks in riddles and rhymes, and James isn't clear on whether the Owlman is trying to help him, or end his life.

Setting the film in a creepy old mansion situated in the Scottish highlands goes a long way for this film. The location is drenched in fog, heightening the already suffocating atmosphere even more. You are constantly on edge, watching out for the ethereal Owlman, who could be anywhere. When the Owlman does appear, the film seems almost hallucinatory, the filmmakers managing to blend the realms of the waking and the dreaming to great effect.

The blend of a ghost story, religious tales and Pagan folklore are blended extremely well with the story of a man trying his hardest to discover his forgotten past, whilst being haunted by one of the creepiest characters that any horror film has managed to show in such a long time.

I have nothing but praise for this film. The location, the characters, the monster. All are incredible, and go towards making a classic horror film that doesn't have to rely on blood and gore to get under the viewers skin. Everything about the film makes it seem like it was shot on a much bigger budget than it was, and it's ability to creep out even the most hardened horror fan is a great testament to the filmmakers, cast and crew involved.

The Lord of Tears DVD/Blu-Ray comes packaged in a beautiful sleeve along with a CD of the soundtrack and a twenty-four page booklet which contains some beautiful artwork, along with instructions on how to perform your very own sacrifice. The film also comes a downloadable 440 page book, which contains photos, a production diary, storyboards and illustrations. The package as a whole is incredible, and adds to the mystery of the film, as well as giving us a look behind the scenes.

Everyone who is a fan of horror, be it anything from the Universal monsters, up to Jigsaw and Eli Roth's Hostel, should give Lord of Tears to see how horror is still an incredibly effective tool in cinema, and when it is captured, as Lord of Tears has done, it will shake you to your very soul. It really is that good!

You can purchase the Lord of Tears Region Free DVD/Blu-Ray from Hex Media by clicking HERE.

Darkest regards......Dani.