Dir. Chris Skotchdopole (2023)
A newlywed couple on their honeymoon are taken captive by an inventor and his wife who are looking to blackmail their way to success.
I've talked many times on this site about what it takes to make a good indie horror film. In a genre that lacks a lot of the resources present in more mainstream movies, it's important that the normal film requirements like acting, writing, and a good story shine through. Without these things, an indie film can't fall back on explosions or known stars, a huge PR campaign or viral marketing. When an indie film has all three of these things, though, it's got a real chance to do something impressive. Crumb Catcher not only excels in these three areas, but every area, and it's an incredible debut from director Chris Skotchdopole.
Newlywed couple Shane (Rigo Garay, who also co-wrote the film) and Leah (Ella Rae Peck, Gossip Girl) are going on their honeymoon to an isolated cabin in the woods. Shane is an author and is on the verge of publishing his first book through the publishing company that Leah works for, though there's certainly some frustration building between the two of them on the project. When a knock at the door reveals a waiter from their wedding, John (John Speredakos), and his wife Rose (Lorraine Farris), the couple's romantic night is interrupted as the intruders begin pitching John's newest invention, the Crumb Catcher. John is not willing to take no for an answer, however, using a video of Shane in a compromising position with Rose as blackmail to squeeze some money out of the couple. Things do not get better from here.
Crumb Catcher is a disconcerting cat and mouse game between the two couples, and it's majorly sold by the incredible performance by Speredakos as the unhinged inventor. Garay and Peck are likewise excellent as the newlyweds with problems, and Farris' lounge singer-esque role helps round out the quartet. The four actors play tremendously well together, with Speredakos' deranged performance the glue that holds it all together. It's a portrait of insanity, though none of it feels particularly undeserved, and it eventually devolves into a harrowing vignette about how far two people are willing to go to be polite and what happens when that breaks down.
The script is excellent, co-written by Skotchdopole, Garay, and indie Godfather Larry Fessenden. The direction is stellar, and Skotchdopole and cinematographer Adam Carboni do a magnificent job of keeping the audience on its toes throughout. It's a manic film, filled with heightened emotions and an advancing feeling that things are spinning wildly out of control. By the end of the film, which features one of the most unique and distressing car chases that I've ever seen, the audience is on the edge of their seats to find out how this is all going to play out in the third act.
There are so many indie horror films that end up leaning into supernatural explanations or disorienting plotlines simply because of a lack of ideas, and Crumb Catcher entirely avoids this pitfall by keeping the entire film grounded in reality. It's not really scary per se, but it all feels like something that could actually happen to two folks who are particularly unlucky (or who put themselves into a situation like this). The chase scene at the end is particularly interesting, filmed in such a way that the audience is entirely in the shoes of the characters and as disoriented as they are, but even this scene avoids any reliance on camera tricks other than what's necessary to sell the sequence. It's perfectly done, and I loved every second of it.
I watch a lot of indie horror, and it's rare that I see one that I'm willing to completely go to bat for, but Crumb Catcher is certainly that film. It's brilliant from start to finish, subverting a relatively common experience into one that is anything but and refusing to take its foot off the gas until the film's conclusion. It's well-made in every area, and even Skotchdopole's editing is nearly flawless. It's hauntingly funny at times and unnerving at others, striking the perfect balance to make an infinitely watchable film. If you stack this one up with a huge budget Hollywood film covering the same story, you're not going to see a whole lot of difference, and everyon involved should be commended on their effort.
Who this movie is for: Indie horror fans, Psychological horror lovers, Marriage therapists
Bottom line: Crumb Catcher is a phenomenal indie horror gem that I'm hoping more people get to check out. The actors are all excellent, most notably Speredakos as the deranged John, and the direction from first-time filmmaker Skotchdopole is outstanding. I definitely recommend checking this one out if you get the chance, and it's getting a release from Doppelganger Releasing in limited theaters starting today. If you're a fan of indie horror, or psychological horror in general, you're gonna fucking love this one.
