THE DEATHS OF IAN STONE

By: Robert T. Trate
Review Date: Sunday, March 16, 2008

HorrorFest promises, “8 films to die for”. These films are different, twisted and low budget (though not to low). They are missing one thing: movie stars. Sometimes this can be a good thing. Some actors bring a stigma to a film or have become such icons that all we see anymore is the actor and not the character. With the After Dark Horrorfest collection I relish the opportunity to see some talent that I wouldn’t normally get the chance to see. Plus, if the actors are good enough, I can truly believe they are in that given situation and not taken out of the moment because of some tabloid exploits. The Deaths of Ian Stone is such a film.

In The Deaths of Ian Stone Ian (Mike Vogel) is being chased and killed over and over again with no memory of what happened before. A man (Michael Feast) tells him that whenever a clock stops they’re coming for him. He is also told that he must keep them away from what they want. Ian has no recollection of these people or what it is they might want. All he knows is that they are coming for him, again.  
 
Opening with a picturesque life, Ian quickly dies at the hands of what can best be described as a Dementor (from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) crossed with an Alien (from Alien). Ian then wakes up at a corporate drone job with some perks. He has a beautiful co-worker Jenny (Christina Cole) and very hot girlfriend Medea (Jaime Murray). After a strange work day occurrence and noticing some familiar faces (from the first life) Ian runs home to only get killed again. Awakening to another more depressing life. The twist? Jenny has been in all of his lives and may be the key to unraveling why these familiar strangers are killing him.  

 
The film builds on the horror and the discovery of the truth behind why Ian’s life has become the way it has. You begin to wonder is Ian on a bad drug trip? Stuck in hell? Part of a time loop? Caught bouncing between parallel Earths? All these things begin to race through your mind, but the film that happens in front of you is far different. It does become a bit predictable at times, but the story still remains entertaining. When the truth is revealed Ian must find the answers. He must find the courage and faith within himself to do what must be done, all the while protecting the woman he has come to love.

 
The film is produced by Stan Winston (creature creator extraordinaire) who is no novice to horror. The creatures are spot on scary and we see just enough to let our imaginations run wild with what we are not seeing. The torture scene in the film is like a bizarre mixture of Hostel and Saw with the actors wearing clothes from the Matrix. Though at no time during the duration of the film was I terrified or even scared. I was still intrigued by the mythology that was being created for Ian and his hunters. The characters were only lightly touched upon but had the back story to tell a much grander story. The Deaths of Ian Stone would have made an interesting mini series. 

So, the film doesn't really deliver on horrror but it probably has more originality than many of the other 8 films to Die For. Definatly worth your time.

Special Features:

 
The special features were not present for review.

Tim Janson and Robert Trate will be bringing all 8 Films to Die For to Mania. Please check the site everyday for continuing coverage of After Dark’s Horrorfest.