No.187 : The Hexecutioners (2015)

The Hexecutioners at the IMDb

This film is set in a world where euthanasia has been legalised. As long as you have the correct paperwork you are fine to employ an agency who will send over a worker to dispatch your ailing loved one in the manner of your choosing. You’d think that such a job would demand a strong person with a lot of life experience, but actually you just need to be a pretty young woman. One such worker is Malison whom we meet on her first day in the job. Somewhat strangely she is sent on her own and it’s no surprise when she makes a right pig’s ear of it.

The comatose old woman she’s supposed to put down wakes up after her ‘lethal’ injection, throws up and calls Malison a murderer. You’d think the husband would be happy to see his wife out of the coma, but instead he finishes the old gal off with a pillow.

Somewhat distressed Mel, as she mother used to call her, heads home but is soon evicted from her flat when her landlord learns of her occupation - and of her cat. She abandons the cat in a field and heads of to her next assignment. Learning of her bang up job on the old woman, Mel’s boss pairs her up with an experienced employee, Olivia, who doesn’t wear a bra and is happy to complete her assignments without complaint, even if it means blowing people’s brains out, so that Mel can learn the ropes.

The mismatched pair head off to a mansion with the big pair of CGI gates as seen in the poster above. Falling short of ‘employee of the month’ once again, Mel faints on the doorstep and has visions of a large group of cultists in masks approaching an alter as well as of the old, now dead, woman. Well they’d probably paid her for the day and had put her make up on already.

They meet creepy Edgar who tends to the needs of the girls’ next job, who has the same stylist as Gary Oldman had in ‘Hannibal’. The termination contract contains lots of extra details including cutting the body up and feeding it to the birds whilst text is read from a creepy tome. This is a $1m contract - wonder why the boss sent two emotional ladies? - and they resolve not to get involved. The old house soon exerts its influence on the girls however, with their behaviours changing and the previously prim Mel looking for some lesbian action which Olivia refuses - as is her right. Boo Hiss!

The day of the termination is looming and Mel is having more and more creepy visions. Will the planned ritual go ahead and what is it in aid of? Will our girls survive and will Mel’s housing problem be resolved?

I was surprised this film only had an IMBd rating of 4/10 as I quite enjoyed it. It was small scale and low budget but was teeming with ideas and grisly imagery. I wasn’t 100% sure what was going on but it was the usual stuff about human sacrifices and portals. It was quite creepy throughout and there were some decent touches such as the ritual being chroma keyed, with only the reds showing against a washed out background.

The two female leads were good with Liv Collins handling the transition from mouse to vixen with aplomb. Sarah Power as Olivia had less of a story arc but more than made up for that in other ways. Er, dramatic acting ways!

It didn’t set the heather alight but as a late night offering on the Horror Channel this was a welcome find and one well worth seeking out.

THE Tag Line Getting ready For Bed - and Other Scenes Too! 66%