Filmmaker Jason D. Morris is not afraid to unleash the beast in the wildly unhinged horror flick The Yellow Balloon. Part grindhouse expose, part supernatural chaos, The Yellow Balloon is a divisive horror-comedy that proudly caters to a niche audience. With a screenplay by Robert Carrera, The Yellow Balloon doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is the best way to enjoy this bonkers fright fest. Leave your expectations at the door and prepare yourself for a truly unique viewing experience.

Heartbreak is a Killer

After suffering a devastating breakup, Mia (Justine Leverett) and her friends escape to a remote cabin in the woods so she can clear her head. Mia and her pals, Harper (Shelby Broadnax), Travis (Robert Carrera), and Eli (Justin Jobe), have every intention of making this weekend one of rest and relaxation. However, there are external forces at play that choose savagery over serenity. A disturbing number of yellow balloons seem to appear out of nowhere. Surprisingly, they bring with them a demonic force that the friends struggle to fend off. This leads to the discovery of Ringmaster Vincent Vile (Scott Somers), a creepy carnival figure who is behind the twisted occurrences. Vincent deploys cursed VHS tapes and an army of yellow balloons to incite violence and throw the groups’ trust into question, disrupting their friendship dynamic and turning them against each other.

A Disturbing Occult Carnival Nightmare

Those with a fear of clowns or circus-related paraphernalia will want to steer clear of The Yellow Balloon. For those who love the imagery of an occult carnival nightmare, this one’s for you. Director Jason D. Morris embraces the film’s campy spirit with grotesque body horror, sexual scenarios, and lots of special effects makeup. The Yellow Balloon leans into NSFW moments, as exploding penises and a balloon extraction from a woman’s vagina are only the beginning of the madness.

The majority of the film takes place at night, which lends itself to an overall darker color palette. This backdrop sets the scene for the story arc’s impending spookiness, which is amplified by a playfully thrilling score. The four leads each have their moments to shine throughout the film, and their authenticity on screen carries more weight than the quality of the performance.

Takeaway

The Yellow Balloon is not your traditional horror film. What we have here is a genre-specific, carnival creature feature that may creep you out more than scare you. That said, however, the commitment to the bit is quite commendable.