Jeremiah Kipp’s, Slapface has made its debut to horror streaming site Shudder 

The horror and sci fi mashup, Slapface, has made it to Shudder this week. This comes as one of the bigger releases on the horror centered streaming site debuting this month.  It deals with adolescent trauma when a young boy befriends a monster that lives in the woods after the death of his mother.

Jeremiah Kipp’s Slapface might sound familiar to some as it was first released in 2018 in its original form as a short feature film. The film has since been remastered and turned into a full-length feature film. The indie horror thriller flick was released for a second time in March of 2021 and has managed to make a commotion in the sci-fi movie market.

Slapface follows the story of two brothers, Tom who is played by producer Mike Manning and Lucas who is played by August Maturo. The boys are stricken with grief from the recent passing of both of their parents, and find themselves in danger once Lucas forms a twisted friendship with a supernatural creature who lives in the woods.

The name of the movie, Slapface comes from the game the two brothers play together, which is used as a form of discipline. Lucas’s life is set at an all time low with the passing of his parents and the constant bullying at school by a group of girls played by Bianca and Chiara D’Ambrosio. Not to mention his hidden romance with Mirabelle Lee’s character Moriah, Lucas is desperate for friendship and a change in his life. Lucas finds himself befriending a suspicious creature of the name Virago, who is played by Lukas Hassel.

The friendship between Lucas and Virago quickly unfolds to be something more disturbing and dark. It is up to older brother Tom, his love interest and the town sheriff to put an end to the evil that has taken advantage of two grief stricken boys.

Slapface explores the themes of grief and abuse, and how these two can cause a reaction between one another. Tom and Lucas are trying their best to navigate their new lives, while simultaneously protecting one another. The two can get caught up in violent ways of reacting that in turn illustrates the pain and misfortune that death brings along.

Speaking of the inevitable grief that accompanies a horror film, “I think grief does inform horror movies because we can’t abate it: we go to sleep at night, wake in the morning and we carry grief with us,” Kipp says. “It’s as haunting to Lucas and Tom as the monster in their space.”

The sci-fi thriller mixes realism with fantasy to create a dark masterpiece that has already left audiences wanting more. The full-length feature first debuted as the official selection at the Cinequest San Jose Film Festival in March 2021, viewers quickly expressed their admiration for Slapface. Here, the film acquired the Audience Award in the Thriller, Horror, and Sci-Fi category.

Critics are chiming in after the films debut to Shudder this week, “Slapface proves to be a unique tale in an age where horror movies are often rehashes of things we’ve seen before. Slapface relies heavily on character and story rather than jump scares or empty exposition. The film explores Lucas’ toxic dynamic with his brother, Tom, and what happens when he doesn’t care for his brother the way a guardian should,” as of CBR.com.

The release of the flick has left fans with the emotional experience of dealing with loss and loneliness. Contrary to the eeriness of the film, critics say the film packs an “emotional punch” lead by strong main character performances that “brilliantly portray isolation.” With such a tense atmosphere, the film is a must match and will leave viewers reeling for more!

Critics also express their support, pointing out the film’s realistic undertones and odes to the modern world. Others praise the acting and directing, noting the superiority of the film despite its rather small budget and shooting locations.

With the combination of highly experienced actors and a passionate, well blended crew, Slapface continues to demand attention from critics and audiences alike since its release earlier this week. Now that the flick has made its way to Shudder, Kipp is ready for the world to experience the thrill that is Slapface.