REVIEW: ‘Bingo Hell’; A Hellish Tale of Gentrification, Greed, and Grandmas

On September 24th, 2021 I was given the fantastic opportunity to see “Bingo Hell” at Fantastic Fest, one of the four films from Amazon’s “Enter the Blumhouse” collection. So, of course, I’m here to give it a review!

The film is fun, it’s got a great cast, a fantastic villain, and a unique setting. This is, of course, no surprise from Blumhouse as they are one of those studios that consistently pumps out fun and unique films.

The film tackles the problems of gentrification, greed, and scams, and how they specifically target the elderly. It’s a story I found to be really unique but well presented in a fun and creepy horror romp. 

Adrianna Barazza brings her all and dominates as the fierce Lupita. Like, oh my God, this granny has grit. She’s funny, she’s badass, she’s a person with flaws, and she’s a refreshing and welcomed horror heroine. Her partner in crime in the film Dolores (played by L. Scott Caldwell) really captivates the audience with her emotion. In fact, I'd even say that Caldwell is the heart of the film with her story right next to Barazza. This is one of the many things I enjoyed with this film, the cast and their respective characters. Shane, Perry, and Gigi wrote a great group of people to push this story and it really goes a long way in this film. Each one feels unique and memorable in their own way, and they each get a good moment to show off. This is one thing I really loved about this film, the ensemble of older actors. They’re all so much fun and unique to watch on screen. Gigi said during the Q&A at Fantastic Fest that they got their perfect cast and I couldn’t agree more.

This opens well for the next topic that this film handles both on screen and off. The ageism of Hollywood. The films focal point is the problems many elderly people go through. Things like gentrification of their neighborhoods and scams trying to profit off of them (both of which are tackled in the movie). The film also does this through an older set of actors as the leads, something that really added to its charm and refreshing tone. 

Richard Brake absolutely kills it as Mr. Big. He plays a devious, dastardly, and downright despicably greedy character that captivates the audience anytime he’s on screen. His casting in this film is nothing less of a stroke of genius, as his iconic grin and raspy voice really sold me on his character…a horrific person who should be feared.

The way the movie is actually filmed was quite nice. There are a lot of practical effects and neat set pieces. Small and quaint, the cinematography is also done quite well. My only real critique in the department of visuals is that I feel like there’s a lot of sequences that are too choppy in their editing. Too many cuts back and forth in the same scene which really took me out. For example during a pivotal fight scene there are so many cuts that I really couldn’t feel the impact of the fight.

Story wise, Bingo Hell has heart. It’s a heartfelt story about community, family, and friends, and how greed can destroy that. A message I think serves well in the way it’s told, especially through Blumhouse‘s unique way of storytelling. 

Overall, the film is a fun and quaint horror romp that tackles some strong issues in a unique way. I’m happy to say that Blumhouse has done it again, and I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out on again with the rest of the “Enter The Blumhouse” flicks.

Bingo Hell will be on Amazon October 1st 2021.