ICE CRACKING TERROR IN ‘HIMALAYA’

By Julian Russ

There’s a monster on the mountain in Himalaya, a shiver-inducing new horror film from Ghost Machine Pictures. While some grizzled horror fans might find this creature feature too erudite, Himalaya takes an entirely unique approach to this enduring mystery. In fact, there is nothing abominable about this icy descent into madness. Despite its limited scope, there’s something delightfully ghoulish about Himalaya’s ‘live broadcast’ approach, relentlessly teasing the audience with potential discoveries at every turn.

SYNOPSIS:
Broadcasting live from a remote Himalayan outpost, a team of experts search for the mythical “Snow Ghost," a creature the locals worship and fear. On the frigid peaks above, cryptozoologist Yuma Sato climbs inside a newly discovered ice cave. His objective: Make the discovery of a lifetime in front of an eager online audience. As Dr. Sato crawls deeper into frozen darkness, his camera reveals unexpected horrors. Could this be an internet hoax? Or will the greatest scientific mystery of all time be solved? Only those who watch will know the truth.

For the most part, Himalaya delivers on its lofty promises, providing chills and thrills on a shoestring budget. The characters are likable, engaging and played by professional actors with industry credits. Co-leads Jesse LeNoir and Akihiro Kitamura add a touch of star power to this indie endeavor. The writing is above par, balancing backstory and action in a tidy package. The production quality is remarkably good at times, and slightly below the mark in terms of continuity for those with an eagle eye. It remains, however, a surprisingly ambitious and satisfying film compared to its competition in class. Editing and sound design play a large role in making this film an enjoyable movie-watching experience. While Himalaya was clearly made outside the Hollywood system, it receives a Fearwire score of 4 knives out of 5. Expect Brandon Walker, Ashley Park and Thomas Burke of Ghost Machine Pictures to rise above the average indie scare merchants with their fiendishly fresh approach to filmmaking.

Experience winter in July by watching Himalaya on Amazon Prime. Available now!