An office party gets crashed by a group of masked murderers in this satirical slasher from writer, director, and actor Illya Konstantin.
The Workplace Invasion Thriller Screened for the first time at UK film festival FrightFest, on the 21st August. Night of Violence is a feature debut that offers a lot of inspiration for aspiring filmmakers working with limited resources.
The film starts with a brilliant satirical infomercial for a fictional drug, “Azlepta”. This opening scene is a home run, perfectly parodying the endless stream of drug commercials on TV while simultaneously establishing a comedic tone. The use of testimonials, which list both the drug’s benefits and wildly awful side effects like “suicidal thoughts forever,” sets a high bar for the kind of witty, biting humour the film aims for but sometimes misses.
The movie chronicles the events of one night at a party for a company called “Robinek Pharmaceuticals,” which is crashed by a civilian militia seeking revenge for the company’s defective drugs. We are quickly introduced to the main cast: Elliot, the nerdy but likable hero; his slimy superior, Rudy; his love interest, Janelle; and their coked-out boss, Blake.As the party gets underway, the masked intruders, wearing spooky Greek tragedy masks, break in and start the rampage.
The film’s use of a small cast and limited locations is a great example of a team making the most of what they have. The practical effects, while sparse, are genuinely convincing and serve as a testament to the crew’s ingenuity and a promising sign for future projects.
While some aspects, such as the acting and editing, aren’t as refined as those of seasoned filmmakers, it’s impressive that the team was able to create a cohesive story with a 90-minute runtime. The film’s tonal shifts from comedy to horror, though sometimes jarring, shows a willingness to experiment with the genre. The team does not shy away from experimenting with new and evolving cinematic tools, in a particularly noteworthy montage AI-generated video is used to show a collection of blood-soaked hallways.
The film draws on a lot of classic cinematic inspiration, which is a common and often successful technique for first-time directors. It’s clear that Konstantin was influenced by everything from Die Hard to The Belko Experiment to The Office. There are even nods to classic non-comedic horror, with Argento-style Giallo lighting casting frequent blue and red lights in the hallways.
For any aspiring filmmaker, Night of Violence serves as a great example of what’s possible. The team was able to craft a feature-length film with a clear vision, despite budget constraints and technical limitations. It proves that it’s possible for anyone to turn a compelling idea into a full-length movie. Konstantin has shown he has the seeds of promise. With more time to hone his craft, I am excited to see his trajectory.
“It’s clear that Konstantin was influenced by everything from Die Hard to The Belko Experiment to The Office. There are even nods to classic non-comedic horror, with Argento-style Giallo lighting casting frequent blue and red lights in the hallways”
