139. HAYRIDE TO HELL (2024) dir. Dan Lantz

Please rate & review The Movies on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you listen to the show!---HAYRIDE TO HELL is about Farmer Sam (Bill Moseley). As is the case with most farmers, he's happiest living a simple life: growing crops, selling candy apples, making dad jokes so heinous you'd rather pull your own dad's finger after Sunday lunch. But the most exciting time of Sam's life arrives when he hosts the haunted hayride. This schlocky attraction brings together costumed community members under the holy vow of doing their damnedest to give everyone one good scare.If only mayor Betsy Butte (Allyson Malandra) and Sheriff Jubell (Kane FUCKING Hodder) felt the same way. They're all like "It's a nui-sance," "It invites vandalism," "Think of the property valu-" blah blah blah, bite me.In a last-ditch attempt to save the hayride (and the family farm that's been there since before the actual town), Sam makes a bet with Mayor Butte: if hecan make a hayride so scary (while still being safe) that if converts the mayor, cops, and other esteemed members of the community, they'll have to leave his operation be. If he loses, both he and the farm go.But Sam, ever the plotter, has something a tad darker up his sleeve...Give my silly horror movie a little bit of teeth and I'll be a happy man. I consider HAYRIDE TO HELL an appetizer for what spooky season & October have to offer me. It gets me into the holiday spirit and for that, I'll happily recommend it. The movie releases on VOD platforms on Sept. 24!---Follow The Movies on ⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠& ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠Financially support the podcast via the ⁠⁠tip jar!