Hold The Fort

This is a slightly amended version of the review first published for Hold the Fort’s screening at London FrightFest 2025.

Most people know that the price of property these days is leading people to take ever more risks and/or strange decisions. That’s what happens within the first five minutes of Hold the Fort, when a wife decides that her husband has made the wrong decision when offered a lot of money for their property.

The film then switches to Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary) who are moving into their brand-new house. Welcomed by the president of the Homeowners Association (HOA) Jerry (Julian Smith) who invites them to the annual Equinox party.

Jenny isn’t quite as keen as Lucas but accepts expecting that there will be some booze there to get her through it all. The gathering is made up of the usual assortment of characters: the keen, the cynical, the retired and newbies – Lucas and Jenny.

However when Jerry announces that they are there for the annual opening of the hell portal, Jenny is too wasted to care, and Lucas thinks it's some sort of HOA prank. Until the portal opens and various witches, spirits and monsters are unleashed. A motley crew they stand little chance without their champion McScruffy (Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson).

A horror comedy as broad as they come, writer/director William Bagley clearly didn’t worry that any idea that came into his head was too outlandish - Kung-Fu spirits possessing people and cheese sticks laced with hallucinogenics anyone?

There’re some great action sequences laced with comedy and horror. But its also very sharp witty with the cast having plenty to good lines to play with. The budget limitations come to light when the werewolves appear but getting them right has defeated many directors whatever the budget.

At seventy-four minutes Hold the Fort is lean and moves at a cracking pace though never looking forced.

Hold the Fort will be available on digital platforms from 23 June 2026.