The Jester (2023)

I almost forgot about this one, now streaming on various platforms. It seems to have been caned by most reviewers but I thought it was OK. Low-budget thriller/chiller with most of the spooks based around the titular character's mask and position in the frame whilst terrorising people!

The Jester guy is genuinely creepy, the music is effective being used behind his acts of creepiness and (somewhat supernatural) ability to inflict gore and nastiness on victims in small-town America at Halloween. It's quite atmospheric at times but with little logic to what's going on in terms of an excuse for a story - just spooks, terror and fun!

Special effects are a bit basic, but that's not the point really - it's less about the gore and more about the sinister creep value. There's a great scene in a One Stop shop (or petrol station maybe) about half way through which is fun. A few jump-scares, mostly brought about by urgent music than visuals, but again, it doesn't rely on that.

There's a series of shorts out there starting in 2016 from the same director, Colin Krawchuk, so I must try to track them down. Michael Sheffield, in the lead does a good enough job as he holds The Jester's body menacingly and Lelia Symington as the lead female, Emma, similarly as our potential victim to get behind. A few beers, Friday night after the pub. Perfect!