DIE’CED: RELOADED Offers ’80s Slasher Style but Falls Short on Originality
- creepykingdom
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By Brendan Graham
I went into DIE’CED: RELOADED hoping for a fun, throwback horror flick. It hits a lot of the usual notes—a creepy killer, ’80s vibes, and a synth-heavy soundtrack—but by the time it wrapped up, it just didn’t leave much of an impression on me.
The movie takes place on Halloween in 1980’s Washington and follows Benny (Jason Brooks), a troubled man who breaks out of a high-security asylum dressed like a scarecrow. He goes on a violent killing spree through the quiet streets of a small suburban town just outside Seattle, fixating on a young woman named Cassandra (Eden Campbell), whose past is somehow tangled up with his.
The biggest problem? The script. The dialogue feels stiff and unnatural, which kills the tension and sometimes even turns serious moments unintentionally funny. It’s not the actors’ fault—they do what they can—but the writing just doesn’t have the goofy charm of classic ’80s slashers. Honestly, it kind of felt like a Tommy Wiseau-level awkwardness. The script could have really used more work, especially in fleshing out the characters and making the conversations feel real.
Also, the movie borrows too much from TERRIFIER. Benny, a silent killer with heavy makeup who commits over-the-top murders, is basically a less interesting version of Art the Clown. Benny just doesn’t have that same crazy energy that makes Art so memorable—it feels like the movie copied more than it created.There’s even a scene at a cafe where Benny is making our protagonist uncomfortable, much like the pizza parlor scene with Art. It’s those similarities that make it especially hard to ignore that Art was the main source of inspiration here.
That said, there are some good things here. The practical effects and gore scenes are solid—messy and creative, clearly made with care. The filmmakers also put thought into the look of the movie, with moody lighting and shots that capture the grindhouse feel. Visually, it’s clear they love the genre, even if the story doesn’t quite match up.
In the end, DIE’CED: RELOADED  isn’t a total disaster, but it’s not a film I’ll remember. If you’re a die-hard slasher fan who can overlook these flaws, it might be worth a watch. But if you want something fresh or genuinely exciting, this probably isn’t the one.