In 2024, horror cinema is having its best year in a long time. Fright flicks such as “Longlegs,” “Cuckoo,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” “MaXXXine,” and “Abigail,” are scaring up impressive box office activity.
File Chris Skotchdopole’s feature-length debut “Crumb Catcher” (Music Box Films) under the home invasion category. Leah (Ella Rae Peck), who comes from a well-heeled New York family, works in publishing. Her new husband, the considerably less well-off Shane (Rigo Garay), with his neck and face tatts, is Leah’s latest acquisition, as both a life-partner and an author. Shane’s memoir, about his troubled upbringing with his substance-abusing father, promises to make a splash on the literary scene.
Following the ceremony and picture-taking at the wedding, Shane is given a gift envelope full of wedding gift cash, and the newlyweds take off for a honeymoon at a posh country estate. But their departure doesn’t go smoothly. First, Shane is still battling a hangover from the night before (of which he recalls very little). His beat-up Oldsmobile (which he must start with a screwdriver) isn’t cooperating in the venue’s garage.
Making matters worse is the appearance of annoying cater-waiter John (John Speredakos) who is intent on inserting himself into the couple’s situation. Fortunately, they get away from him. But Shane is troubled by a text from someone, identified as Rose, who needs “to talk about last night,” which is still a blur.
Complicating matters, Shane has unresolved concerns about the book. He’s worried about airing his family’s dirty laundry. Additionally, he’s still bothered about not inviting his father to the wedding. As Leah and Shane are hashing out their concerns, she tells him that she sees a car in the driveway of the secluded house. Can you guess who it is? It’s John! He’s there on the pretense of bringing the couple a wedding cake topper that went missing, but he has another purpose.
Along with his sidekick Rose, he insists on demonstrating an invention of his. You see, he’s not just in food service. He’s also an artist, an inventor, and an entrepreneur. He’s excited to demonstrate his invention, the titular Crumb Catcher, with Leah and Shane, while also securing a commitment of financial support for the project. John’s entrepreneurial skills also include blackmail, as Rose has a video on her phone in which she is giving a blackout drunk Shane a blowjob on his wedding night. Doing what he can to prevent Leah from seeing the video, while also trying to placate John and Rose, ultimately leads to a shockingly violent conclusion.
Part of the horror of “Crumb Catcher” is how completely unbearable these characters are. Unlikeable is putting it mildly. Your ability to spend about two hours with some truly deplorable and disreputable people will certainly play a part in whether you want to catch this movie.
Rating: B-
