Midnight Peepshow: A sleezy & gory good time

Midnight Peepshow isn't exactly out to reinvent the horror genre or the anthology format for that matter. Still, for what it's worth, the film has three fairly decent segments, some creative premises, and at least one or two characters you actually care about. If you're lonely this Valentine's Day, the anthology makes for a half-decent watch.

The initial wrap-around follows Graham (Richard Cotton), who's having quite a bad night after his wallet is stolen. On a seedy London street, he discovers a grimy club, where he encounters one bizarre person after another, including a woman who looks like she's had her throat slashed, a creepy bride, and various other horror shows. Each uncanny exhibit segways into the three tales involving sex and violence. The club itself makes for a cool and memorable set-up and factors into a larger plot regarding the dark web and videos of sexual deviance and torment to satiate viewers' twisted appetites. This is all run by a company called the Black Rabbit.

The first segment, directed by Airell Anthony Hayles, is fairly lean, simple in its concept, and generally well-acted and scripted. An intruder confronts a bickering couple and takes an interest in the wife, Alice (Roisin Browne). In fact, pointing a gun at the couple, the intruder forces Alice to have sex with him as the hubby looks on, tied and bound to a chair. The segment has quite a twist ending that elevates it.

The next segment, directed by Andy Edwards, follows Helen (Miki Davis), a bride who is forced to determine the fate of three men. Initially, this one has a Saw-like premise, as the four characters awake in a dingy and dank room, with electric collars around their neck. The games master gives them the rules, and it goes from there. Unfortunately, the three men are rather bland and unforgettable, but Helen's humor and Davis' performance save this one.

Directed by Jake West, The Black Rabbit is the third and final segment that ties everything together and largely follows Graham's wife, who, we learn has been working for the company. This one really unleashes some gnarly gore by its closing minutes. The conclusion also has something to say about misogyny and even sex work in general, though it could have been handled slightly better.

Midnight Peepshow, overall, makes for an entertaining watch. There's nothing too extreme, at least for horror fans, inside the scuzzy club, but none of the segments fall flat. The neon tones resemble an erotic thriller, which suits this anthology quite well. There aren't enough Valentine's Day horror movies, but Midnight Peepshow makes for a decent entry. If you're lonely this holiday, consider stepping inside a booth and giving this anthology a view.

Midnight Peepshow arrives on VOD beginning February 13.