@Karanormal is a Twistingly Captivating, Locally-made Thriller
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3.5/5 stars
A suspenseful super-indie with a horror twist, @Karanormal is the first cinematic offering from Erie's Everything at Once Studios LLC. A partnership between Tony See (Cunningham) and David Skarupski, you may have heard of them from their long-running interview podcast of the same name, photo services, or Unplugged Treehouse Concert series.
The story begins with Kara Johnston, better known as @Karanormal, a popular and aptly-named vlogger who specializes in the supernatural. When her series is exposed to be a fraud, she issues an apology video that begins the film. Telling her fans that she needs a break from New York City, she books an AirBnB near her hometown in Chautauqua County to attempt to be just "normal Kara."
She's then joined by Adele Crotty (Best of Erie 2023 Best Local Actress Winner), who is superbly funny and scathingly biting as Kara's sister Jess. Helping her with her temporary move, Jess serves as her most trusted confidant, and weathered familial connection.
Local songwriter Matthew Crays plays Kara's often-distracted boyfriend, Jake. Crays is entertaining and always on-target, whether Kara deserves better from a boyfriend or not.
The real heavy lifting of the piece is of course done by Colleen Munn as Kara herself. Delivering the lion's share of the on-screen dialogue, the success of the film hinges on her reactions and line delivery. With the looks and sincerity of a classic Scream Queen, Munn's performance absolutely nails it.
While @Karanormal is of course a super-low-budget film (achieved thanks to its GoFundMe campaign and inclusion of local sponsors), it uses its limitations to its advantage at nearly every turn. While the use of one primary location, well-rehearsed long shots, a short running time, and small cast are huge pluses, the real magic is the rapid-fire script. @Karanormal is smart, with insightful social media takes and believable performances, making it an adventure to watch, even after multiple viewings.
For more information, go to www.everythingatoncestudios.com
Directed by Tony See // Written by Dave Skarupski // Starring: Colleen Munn, Adele Crotty, Matthew Crays, Thomas Morgan, Matt Royek, Scott Koestel, Alex Tacket, Charles Brown, and Blair Phillips // 47 minutes // Unrated
