Dawn of an Evil Millennium (1988)
*** (out of 4)
Damon Packard directed this 20-minute short film, which was shot on 8mm but is the perfect example where talent and creativity can overcome a small budget. Trying to describe the plot is nearly impossible but lets just say some sort of alien or demonic creature comes to Los Angeles where he causes countless deaths before getting in an Oldsmobile where more damage is done.
DAWN OF AN EVIL MILLENNIUM actually gained a pretty big cult following and it's easy to see why. The first portion of the film contains some terrific gore that is obviously going to appeal to horror fans and some of it is quite creative. This includes a terrific sequence where a man bashes his head against the wall countless times with each time he does it blood spills out everywhere. There's no question that the terrific editing is a major key here because it really gives the film a unique style and freshness unlike any other film from this period. The second half of the film is more like a trailer for a future movie and isn't quite as effective but considering the budget you can't help but be impressed.