WFG RATING: A-

ITN Distribution presents a Mahal Empire production in association with SlaughterCore Presentations and Nicholas George Productions. Written and directed by Rolfe Kanefsky. Story and produced by Sonny Mahal and Michael Mahal. Cinematography by Michael Su. Edited by Jay Woelfel. 

Stars Jessica Morris, Lukas Hassel, Zach Chyz, Alex Rinehart, Cynthia Aileen Strahan, Danny Tesla, Robert Donavan, Sarah French, with Tara Reid, and Richard Grieco. 

A series of paintings transform a family into their worst nightmares in this Mahal Empire film.

At a local auction run by Tess Barryman, couple Gina and Dylan Wilson buy a series of seven paintings that were the works of a mysterious artist named Dorian Wilde. While the couple remain at the auction, Dylan’s son Louis is coming home for college break along with his girlfriend Kim. Kim is instantly welcomed by Dylan and Gina along with Lou’s sister Donna and their half-siblings Jack and Suzie.

As the family begins to appreciate the paintings, they slowly begin to change. Gina begins to slowly change to a seductress. Donna becomes determined to get her crush one way or another. Dylan becomes obsessed with work. Jack and Suzie become extremely lazy. Louis, who is himself an aspiring artist, meets Dorian Wilde himself, a ghost who tells him he made a deal with a certain someone to paint animals relevant to the Seven Deadly Sins. It is up to Kim and a former priest to find a way to save the family before it’s too late.

From the amazing Mahal Empire comes this great film that meshes two of my loves: art and horror. A series of possessed paintings causing a family to unleash their innermost desires to the brink of insanity is quite fresh in its execution. It also helps that the cast does quite well with their performances including a cameo from Richard Grieco in the film’s opening scene.

Jessica Morris goes from good-natured to sensuality in the role of Gina while Lukas Hassel does quite good as Dylan, even with his slow transformation into a greedy workaholic. Zach Chyz’s Louis is the heart of the film as aspiring artist Lou and when he goes into almost full Shining mode, it is up to his girlfriend, Alex Rinehart’s Kim, to try to find a way to save him. Danny Tesla is excellent as the ghost of Dorian Wilde, bringing a sense of charm in a demented way. 

Some of the company’s veteran actors appear in the film. Paul Gunn plays an appraiser who critiques Lou’s latest art while WorldFilmGeek Hall of Famer Sarah French makes the most of her role as Heidi, a lady of the night who may end up being a victim of Lou’s when he goes into a meshing of The Shining and Color Me Blood Red. The final act of the film is perhaps the most insane and leads to a few shocking and unbelievable twists that keep the viewer engaged. 

Art of the Dead is a very intriguing, sensual, and gore-ific entry from the Mahal Brothers and writer/director Rolfe Kanefsky. The film has a vibe that measles The Shining and Color Me Blood Red all with excellent performances from the cast. Definitely a great entry from the Mahal Empire team.