Horror Movie Review: Central Park (2017)

Written by, directed by, and starring Justin Reinsilber, Central Park is an initially promising movie that ends up being nothing more than your standard slasher horror. Where the extra detail surrounding the killer and their victims ends up feeling mostly pointless come the end.

Detail that surrounds fraud as the film begins talking about a man who is to be convicted for defrauding tons of people to the tune of billions of dollars. This man just so happens to be the father of Harold Smith (Justiin Davis) who despises what he has done and even feels responsible in a way, regardless of what his friends and family say.

Someone does hold him responsible though and is planning to get their revenge on everyone surrounding the fraudster. Luckily for the killer, Harold and his friends have decided to spend the night in Central Park having some drinks and doing some drugs. The perfect place to commit some murder.

Which is where the movie falls apart as the sight of a handful of teenagers running around the dark park being hunted by a masked killer isn’t that exciting, regardless of the motivations. Which, while interesting, are sketchy. Being defrauded of a lot of money can be life-destroying and getting revenge would be believable, but it sure takes an irrational mind to go after the son and his friends.

Seemingly aware of the lack of meat to the bones, Central Park throws in a random selection of extra plot points that either have extremely tenuous links or none whatsoever. With the former, it’s the teen’s teacher who makes the mistake of taking a late-night bike ride through the park. With the latter, it’s the local legend of the ‘hyena guy’, which is as stupid as it sounds.

None of this is necessary and, in the end, actually distracts from the initial setup regarding the fraud.

None of these complaints means the movie is unwatchable by any stretch. The cast is solid, a bit bare when it comes to characters, but believable and likeable, for the most part. The killer and what they choose to wear as a mask does create fear and tension. Especially as the location really allows them to appear out of nowhere and use the environment to their advantage.

Which means the lack of impactful kills, blood, and gore is disappointing. It sure would have been nice to see Central Park be a little braver in this regard.