Fertile Ground - ***

Directed by Adam Gierasch, Starring Gale Harold, Leisha Hayley, Chelcie Ross, Jami Bassman. Horror, USA, 2010, Approx. 92 minutes.

Released in the UK on DVD by After Dark Originals on DVD and Blu-ray on 23rd May 2011.

City dwellers Emily and Nate Weaver live a happy life, with the joy of parenthood to look forward too. Tragedy strikes however when Emily has a miscarriage and loses the baby. As the couple come to terms with their loss, they decide to move to the country for a new start in peaceful surroundings. They move into Nate's old Weaver family ancestral home in a small idilic town. The house has a dark history however and soon after they arrive, supernatural forces begin to wreck havoc.

Not long after Emily and Nate move into the house, Emily finds an old chest in the basement. Within the chest are some old baby clothes and a doll, however she also discovers the wedding certificate dated 1846 between William and Mary Weaver, with William and Nate sharing an uncanny family resemblance. Soon after, Emily begins having strange unprompted visions of William, however this is all put down to stress and the grieving process from her recent loss.

After discovering an old human skull in the garden, with help from the local historian, Emily discovers more about the history of the house. This includes various murders in the 19th and 20th centuries, and also finding out that Mary Weaver mysteriously disappeared in the mid 1800's never to be found.

When against the odds Emily discovers she is pregnant again, everything should be wonderful. Unfortunately however, the supernatural forces in the house start becoming more pronounced and prominent. Emily starts to have more visions of both William and Mary Weaver, while Nate's personality starts to change, becoming more withdrawn and aggressive in his attitude. Further tragedy then ensues when family friend Reesa dies after apparently falling from a loose window upstairs in the house.

As Emily becomes more and more concerned about the recent events and Nate's behaviour, she discovers Mary's old diary which helps piece together the mystery behind the dark forces, and begins to link the past with the present. As tensions build, will Emily survive the ordeal?

Fertile Ground is directed by friend of Frightfest Adam Gierasch (Autopsy, Night of the Demons) and co-written by him and his partner Jace Anderson. The film is uncomplicated and straightforward, delivering a fairly formulaic story but well written and directed, and reasonably well polished. Tension builds up quite nicely as Emily becomes more exposed to the events in the house.

Overall, Fertile Ground does what it says on the tin. It's not especially original, but easy to watch and enjoyable enough.

Dino Marabese

GORE IN THE STORE
REVIEWS BY FANS FOR FANS
5 STAR FAB - 1 STAR RUBBISH