Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival 2023 – Writer/director Graham Burrell’s Life of the Party will make you wonder just how well you know your co-workers. The darkly humorous, surreal, and nail-biting thriller morphs into a bizarre gathering that then turns into a horror show.

Patrick Daly plays David, who accepts an invite to his co-worker Allison’s house. Molly Jean, who stars as Allison, really gives quite the performance here, which hits all levels of crazy and calls to mind Kathy Bates’ role in Misery. Simply put, Allison isn’t letting David leave anytime soon. She kidnaps him and seats him at a dinner table, where she talks to guests who aren’t there. It’s possible and quite likely the guests she refers to are previous victims. She’s accompanied by Jessica (Lauren Pash) who has a sack on her head and carries out Allison’s grotesque and murderous orders. They play a game that’s an evil twist on spin the bottle. If the bottle lands on David, Allison will order Jessica to kill him.

Despite the horror, and there’s plenty of that, there’s also a lot of humor. Allison’s unnerving behavior and some of David’s reactions to it are well-scripted and darn funny. Again, this calls to mind Misery. That said, there’s something truly frightful about Allison, as well as sad. She has parties by herself and talks to previous victims or imaginary friends who simply aren’t there. Even though she’s a brutal killer, you oddly end up feeling bad for the girl. She just wants some friends. Further, Jessica makes a terrifying accomplice, and though you never see her face, she’s a lingering presence who disturbs in each frame she fills.

I would love to see more of Allison and her whacked-out, sinister behavior. There’s certainly an audience for this type of film, and Burrell has a knack for blending dark comedy with horror.

7.5 Out of 10