By now you would think everyone would know not to steal mystical, magical and/or cursed objects. But of course, that’s just what happens at the start of American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet. Well, not exactly the start. We do have a short prologue where Lilith offs a couple of sorority bimbos, one of whom tries to hide behind a glass door. Seriously.
We are then treated to Alice (KateLynn E. Newberry, Widow’s Point, Devil’s Junction: Handy Dandy’s Revenge) and Lauren (Brianna Burke, Fighting the Sky) stopping into a New Age type shop to get incense. They end up stealing a shrunken head. The actual one from the legend of Lilith Rachet. They give it to Hunter Perry (Rob Jaeger) the pretty boy host of “Beyond The Veil” a paranormal podcast. He decides to have a club-full of folk perform the summoning ritual with him. Things do not end well.
I haven’t seen American Poltergeist so I’m not sure if there’s a connection or if this is a sequel in name only. I do know that there’s no poltergeist in the film though. Lilith, (Crissy Kolarik, Mother Krampus 2: Slay Ride) is a scary looking spirit, but she’s also a pretty standard one. Summoned by a children’s rhyme, appears in mirrors, etc.
Also like many low budget, ($15,000 according to IMDB), films it doesn’t always deliver. Lots of off-screen kills. An extended bathtub scene that shows no skin. You get the idea. Writer/director Eddie Lengyel (Scarred) certainly delivers a technically well-done film, especially for that budget, but the script feels like it was written for a bigger film and then cut back.
American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet isn’t really a bad film. But, as I find myself saying way too often lately, it is an overly familiar one. It’s got the same plot devices, same characters and same jump scares as so many other evil ghost films. If it brought something different to the table it might have risen above them. The last act does build up some solid tension, and as I said it is well shot. Also, for those of us who remember the goth band Lestat, their former keyboardist Timothy Smith contributes an excellent score.
If you like the majority of these films, then you’ll probably enjoy American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet. If you’re at the point of being over most of them this won’t change your opinion either.
American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet is available from ITN Distribution at Walmart and Amazon. You can check for additional outlets visa the film’s Facebook page.