What was supposed to be a simple house party is set to become a bloodbath in this indie horror comedy from director Gregory Blair.

Caleb and Addison are a couple getting ready to hold a garden party with some of their closest friends Wesley, Lincoln, and Reena. Addison also invites her next-door neighbor Melanie to the party. Things get off to an interesting start as Addison just wants to make things perfect despite Caleb’s more laid back attitude. However, things are about to get worse when a mysterious guest arrives, and this guest has brought something to the party: a pickax.

This horror comedy from writer-director Gregory Blair is actually more of a comedy than horror because the horror elements don’t pick up until nearly halfway of its 73-minute running time. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that the cast here is clearly having fun with their roles. The characters are somewhat a typical bunch of characters and for some strange reason, they all work well considering the material.

Nichole Bagby’s Addison is the perfectionist who blows her top when so much as one small flaw happens while Andy Gates’ Caleb is her laid-back boyfriend. Lise Hart’s Reena tends to be a bit neurotic at times while David Leeper’s Wesley and writer/director Blair’s Lincoln just want to support their friends. As for Dawna Lee Heising’s Melanie, she seems to be a “femme fatale” combined with quirky. She even attempts to seduce Lincoln in one scene but it’s clear he’s not interested, but all of that is nothing compared to what happens when the mysterious guest appears to go after the guests. Played by Matt Weinglass, he is very intimidating and looks sinister. But that’s nothing compared to the twist at the final act because it’s just insane and unbelievable. Needless to say, this twist was a very smart move on Blair’s part because it does live up to its title.

Garden Party Massacre is definitely for the fans of the “so bad it’s good” crowd. While it focuses more on the comic aspect in the first half, it does go horror in the second half with a wild shocking twist.

WFG RATING: B-

A PIX/SEE production. Director: Gregory Blair. Producers: Roxy Shih and Gregory Blair. Writer: Gregory Blair. Cinematography: Nate Connett. Editing: Brent Noborikawa.

Cast: Nichole Bagby, Andy Gates, David Leeper, Lise Hart, Gregory Blair, Dawna Lee Heising, Matt Weinglass.