Three models and a photographer head out to Slovenia’s rural hotspot for a photoshoot but hidden in the beautiful landscape are a family of hillbillies who have a special ingredient for their much sought after liquor… human blood.

 

Dubbed Slovenia’s first horror movie, KILLBILLIES is a film the world needs right now. With its gruesome brutality and simple structure, the film harks back at the best films from the past decade. Where post 2010 has seen the supernatural threats and artistic directors take lead in the horror genre, back in the last decade the horror genre was flooded with cinematic gore and welcomed by the masses. Much akin to the films of that decade, KILLBILLIES is a mash up of WRONG TURN and Alexandre Aja’s THE HILLS HAVE EYES bringing the redneck murderers back to the forefront of horror cinema.

 

From the outset it is evident that director Tomaz Gorkic is not messing around as he brings the horror to the forefront of the action with little room for humour as is so often the case with European horror. As a debut feature and the credit of making history for Slovenia’s first horror it has set the benchmark and one that puts many US and British entries to shame. The chemistry between the victims is believable taught and makes a welcome change from the “friends” that fill so many horror films.

 

The violence comes thick and fast and is not for the feint of heart. Lotos Sparovec’ Francl is a brute to be reckoned with but meets his match against survivalist Zina (Nina Ivanisin) as they play cat and mouse in the Slovenian forests.

 

KILLBILLIES is a must see for those who love a good horror movie and despite its Slovenian birth, is a movie that holds its own against all horror movies at the moment.