The wave of YouTube-inspired horror continues with Hell’s Half Acre. In this feature, written and directed by John Patrick Tomasek, a team of streamers named Urban Explorers gets trapped in an abandoned prison that happens to contain an evil presence. This streaming concept isn’t exactly new, though that doesn’t necessarily make it bad. Last year’s Deadstream topped a lot of year-end lists and felt fresh and exciting, complete with plenty of gore and humor. The problem with this particular feature is that while it certainly has some positives, it doesn’t do anything new with a familiar concept and set-up.

While Urban Explorers is indeed a team, the two that stand out are Marcus (Quinn Nehr) and Jessie (Brynn Beveridge). In fact, out of everyone on the crew, they’re the two that are the least forgettable. Marcus has ideas about what Urban Explorers should stand for. Instead of a generic ghost hunting show, he simply wants his team to film at abandoned places and then present the history. This puts him at odds with some of his teammates who believe that the creepy stuff generates more likes and subscribers. Meanwhile, a competing crew shows up and plays up the spookiness, posting their videos at rapid speed, thus generating massive likes and new subscribers. This competition between the different streaming groups is a clever idea that deserved a little more time and attention.

The prison does have its own grisly history involving serial killers, and generally, the backstory feels fleshed out. Because of this, the location very much feels like a character with a bloody history that just won’t die. Further, old prisons are generally unsettling, and this one has creaky doors, a dusty electric chair, and other sinister finds. In that regard, the film’s set design and use of the prison deserve credit. It sets the mood and tone.

The film’s biggest flaw, however, is that there are too many characters and other than Marcus and to a lesser extent, Jessie, none of them feel developed, making it difficult to care about what happens to any of them. Some of the black-eyed demonic forces that eventually arrive near the halfway point are a major letdown. They cheapen the otherwise unsettling atmosphere and feel like an easy and unnecessary gimmick. This feature would have been better served if it relied more on the prison and the eerie feeling it evokes as opposed to these demonic inmates, even if they’re technically part of the location’s uncanny history.

Overall, Hell’s Half Acre very much feels like a direct-to-video indie horror film. This isn’t always a bad thing, however, and as stated, the film does have a few positives, namely its use of location and atmosphere. That said, there’s nothing here all that memorable and too many characters that are undercooked and under-utilized. Even the ending feels too predictable.

5.5 Out of 10