RATING: C+

Uncork’d Entertainment presents a Chrome Entertainment production in association with First Child and Maned Lioness Pictures. Directed by Salvatore Sciafani. Produced by Gerry Pass and Salvatore Sciafani. Written by William Walkerley. Cinematography by David Wolfgang. Edited by David Napier.

Stars Malina Weissman, Anthony Turpel, Devon Michaels, Julie Chang, James Quattrochi, Isabelle McCalla, Marilyn Busch, Christopher Collins, and Lou Ferrigno. 

He was The Incredible Hulk. Now, Lou Ferrigno is the titular killer in this intense film that’s part-slasher, part-psychological horror. 

18-year-old Lisa Phoenix is having a tough time. After her mother passed away from lung cancer, her relationship with her father has been breaking apart. Three months ago, she met Eric and the two have been in a relationship. However, she sees Eric as the first sign of happiness. When Lisa’s father wants to go on their annual fishing trip, she insists on bringing Eric much to his chagrin.The trio head and they end up getting advised to a new spot off the grid.

Upon their arrival, things start out tense but when Eric and Lisa veer off away on a walk, they find themselves lost. Trying to find their way back, they encounter a decrepit farmhouse with pigs. There, they discover Hugo, a hermit who has long been waiting for his mother. Hugo is a cannibalistic farmer who turns his victims into jerky that’s sold at the local store. When the couple makes this horrifying discovery, it becomes a fight for survival as they try to escape The Hermit before they become his next victims. 

When it was announced that Lou Ferrigno would be playing a cannibalistic serial killer, it was met with excitement. We’re after all, talking about the man who played The Incredible Hulk and since then, had established himself primarily as an action star with indie fare like the Cage franchise, Instant Death, and the upcoming Hard Redemption while reprising the Hulk voice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

So how does this fare? Well, with its use of being told in flashback while our protagonist Lisa, played by a breakout Malina Weissman, the film feels more like a modern-day Texas Chain Saw Massacre in terms of its tone. It feels like a half-slasher and half-psychological horror film. We see everything from Lisa’s point-of-view while is interviewed by a show host played by Julie Chang (who is reminiscent of Big Brother host Julie Chen-Moonves). 

We also get flashbacks of Hugo the Hermit’s childhood, which involved constant teasing and bullying by local kids who make fun of him because he lives on a pig farm. When we learn where the cannibalism begins, it is quite shocking because Hugo has a Norman Bates-like complex. When he does kill his victims, that’s the highlight because Ferrigno shows his hulking figure and uses these two spear-like weapons and in one scene, he goes as far as giving us a view of his making his “jerky” in the opening credit sequence. And if that’s not crazy enough, wait for the last ten minutes. 

The Hermit is not bad, but it’s not completely great. Perhaps the flashback element was a bit overdone in certain spots. However, Lou Ferrigno makes the most of playing the titular role and Malina Weissman breaks out. Definitely a one-watch film.

The film will be released on VOD and Digital on March 3.