Horror Movie Review: Blackstock Boneyard (2021)

Apparently based on an untold true story, director Andre Alfa and writer Stephen George set up an interesting concept for the former’s directorial debut but mishandle it by delivering something that is mostly forgettable. Even if it has moments that shine.

Beginning in 1913. Thomas (David Jite) and Meeks (Dean Wil) Griffin are two wealthy black farmers who are accused of killing a Confederate veteran. They are convicted based on the testimony of the victim’s lover, something both men dispute, and they are executed.

100 years later, Judge Carroll Johnson ‘CJ’ Ramage (Terry Milam) and lawyer Roger Newbold (Jonathan Fuller) are about to close a deal that was once the Griffin farm. There’s a lot of money to be made here, if they can just deal with one minor problem. That being the discovery that an out-of-towner named Lyndsy (Ashley Whelan) is the rightful heir to the property.

If the pair of unscrupulous men are to close the deal on the Griffin farm, they are going to have to convince her to sell. So, figuring they can wine and dine her, they invite her to the town and she brings some friends along for the ride.

The timing couldn’t be worse as Thomas and Meeks have risen from the grave and are looking to take their revenge on the descendants of those that killed them.

On the one hand, Blackstock Boneyard’s story is overly familiar and bland because of that. However, on the other hand, the use of a real story and tying in racial elements makes it immediately more interesting. Which means the downright cartoonish way in which racism is portrayed is exceptionally disappointing. What could have been clever and nuanced ends up being a blunt hammer to the head when it comes social commentary.

In fact, there are times when it just doesn’t make sense. Take an attempted lynching scene as an example. Two young black men who live in this town and have made it to young adulthood and it’s only now, that a group of racist white men decide they have had enough of them. All so we can see the arrival of the undead Griffins.

Enjoy their appearance as they’re not in this movie as much as you would expect. Instead, the focus ends up being on things that are downright unimportant to the grander story aspects. Who cares about workplace sexual harassment in a movie about undead men returning from the grave to get revenge on the descendants of those who executed them wrongly!?

It’s not all bad though. When the Griffins are let off the hook, as they are in the final 30-minutes or so, it’s quite gleeful. Especially as seeing a bunch of racists getting their comeuppance is aways going to be enjoyable.

The film has some decent moments of atmosphere, the look of the undead Griffins is notable, and even the CGI isn’t the worst thing you’ll see in this sort of movie.